Teddy Sheringham produced a vintage claret and blue performance as West Ham finally brought their eight-match losing streak to an end, defeating Blackburn Rovers 2-1 this afternoon at Upton Park.
The 40-year-old veteran put West Ham on the road to victory with a pinpoint header from Yossi Benayoun's lofted cross after 20 minutes.
The win was wrapped up by Hayden Mullins 12 minutes from time - and his contribution proved vital as West Ham once again failed to keep a clean sheet.
David Bentley snatched an injury-time consolation but the sense of relief around Upton Park on the final whistle was palpable.
Sheringham was the calm, creative force for West Ham in a scrappy game but neither the West Ham fans nor Pardew will care a jot.
The alternative, an exciting defeat, did not bear thinking about in East London.
Pardew spent the week drumming into his players that defeat to Blackburn would see them equal an unwanted club record which stretches back to 1932.
Pardew was under pressure after such a poor run of defeats but the fans remain fully behind the manager who brought them into the Premiership and to last season's FA Cup final.
The crowd created an intimidating atmosphere at kick-off with chants of "there's only one Alan Pardew" and West Ham soon found their stride.
After surviving two early scares, the Hammers laid siege to the Blackburn goal.
George McCartney forced a corner which Bobby Zamora headed wide at the far post before Hayden Mullins fired a low drive from 20 yards straight at Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel.
Sheringham's deft touch sent Matthew Etherington clear down the left but his chip to the far post floated over Benayoun's head.
When Bobby Zamora pulled back a cross into the box, Blackburn were fortunate that Brad Friedel's punch clear fell between Sheringham and Benayoun, who were both closing in on the edge of the box.
When the ball did drop to Nigel Reo-Coker the captain fired wide.
It was vital West Ham made the pressure count. Too often on their barren run Pardew's men had failed to convert possession into goals and been punished.
But the long wait for a West Ham Premiership goal was finally ended after 20 minutes.
Zamora fed the ball wide to Benayoun who stood up a lofted cross which Sheringham directed with pinpoint accuracy inside Friedel's near-post from 12 yards out.
It was only the third time this season West Ham had taken the lead in a match and the last two ended in defeat, at Liverpool and at Chesterfield, so there was much still to do.
Benayoun had a chance to make it two but tried to be too cute and play in Sheringham instead of taking the shot from the edge of the box.
Blackburn were creating most of their danger down the left, where Jonathan Spector was too frequently pulled out of position and West Ham conceded too many free-kicks on the edge of their own box.
But Blackburn could not profit. Their delivery from set-pieces was poor and the nearest Rovers came was a curling effort from Peter just before the interval which fizzed over Rob Green's bar.
Blackburn worked an early opportunity for Francis Jeffers, on for the injured Jason Roberts, who pulled his effort wide.
Benni McCarthy, who came within minutes of signing for the Hammers in the summer of 2005, was beginning to cause headaches in the home defence.
The South African fired a snapshot straight at Green and then turned Ferdinand to slot a neat shot inside the far post - only for referee Alan Wiley to rule out the strike for foul.
Blackburn had a golden chance to draw level when West Ham left Zura Khizanishvilli unmarked at a corner but the Georgian headed over the bar.
Green's brilliant reaction save from Lucas Neill, palming the ball clear as the Australian crept in at the far post, preserved West Ham's lead.
Zamora wasted the chance of a second after choosing to shoot instead of playing in the unmarked Reo-Coker to his left.
Sheringham was replaced with 15 minutes remaining and Marlon Harewood almost made an immediate impact as he linked with Zamora to win a corner.
Ferdinand won the near-post flick-on and Mullins stole in late to stab the ball past Friedel.
Blackburn left with a consolation from Bentley as West Ham again failed to keep a clean sheet. But at least the Hammers had their win.
