West Ham needed a late equalizer from Thomas Hitzlsperger to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Blackburn on Saturday, but the London club remains rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.
Jason Roberts put Blackburn ahead in the 12th minute, steering home Brett Emerton's cross, and the visitors looked destined to leave with all three points in their own battle against the drop until Hitzlsperger rifled home a superb drive from the edge of the penalty area in the 78th minute.
Blackburn remains just above the relegation zone, but time is fast running out for the Hammers with two games left to play.
Without the injured Scott Parker, West Ham was woefully short of invention and for most of the game looked to be on its way to the Championship after six seasons in the top flight.
Manager Avram Grant was roundly booed when he stepped onto the pitch to retrieve a loose ball during the first half and saw his side fall behind to a classic counterattack.
Jermaine Jones was allowed to carry the ball from midfield before feeding the overlapping run of Emerton and the Australian steadied himself to deliver a perfect cross which Roberts converted from five meters out.
West Ham looked to have run out of ideas when Carlton Cole crafted a chance with good work on the left of the penalty area, teeing up Hitzlsperger in space in the D. The former Aston Villa midfielder took aim and cracked a thunderous drive through a crowd of players and into the far corner.
That kick-started a late surge and substitute Robbie Keane spurned a great chance at the end. Fellow substitute Frederic Piquionne crossed from the left and Keane, from six meters out, fluffed his connection to miss an open goal.
However, the Hammers are still alive and next Saturday will travel to face Wigan in what is likely to be a season-deciding clash for both sides.
