West Ham boss Roeder hopes win is turning point

West Ham manager Glenn Roeder believes the great escape is underway after watching his side battle to their first league win of the season at Upton Park.

Paulo di Canio's return to the side had the desired effect as the Hammers bounced back from Saturday's 6-0 FA Cup thrashing at the hands of Manchester United by recovering after falling behind to Dwight Yorke's 38th-minute strike.

Di Canio won and then converted the penalty which got West Ham level and Jermain Defoe came off the bench to clinch a desperately-needed victory over Blackburn.

Defoe's blistering 89th-minute winner sent Upton Park wild as fans celebrated West Ham's first at Upton Park since beating Bolton 2-1 on May 11, more than eight months ago.

"We always had a strong belief we had the ability to dig ourselves out of the big hole we'd got ourselves into," Roeder said.

"We believed we would turn it round and so last night will help our belief. "They were three huge, massive points and we hope they will be the turning point of our season.

"Four days ago, we embarrassed ourselves and our football club at Old Trafford. There was a horrible, hideous atmosphere in the dressing room after that game - but last night the atmosphere was the opposite end of the spectrum.

"There was a lot of happiness in the dressing room and we want more of that."

West Ham now take on Liverpool on Sunday in their next step to survival.