The Guardian:
Teddy Sheringham emphasised to West Ham's senior players this week that they needed to perform and take the pressure off the younger squad members and Alan Pardew. Yesterday the Premiership's eldest statesman practised what he had preached. The striker's header set West Ham on their way, his touches were integral to the team's best moments in the first half, and Pardew paid tribute afterwards.
The manager's decision to give Sheringham only his second start this season was fully justified. By getting his first goal since March the former England international became the first 40-year-old to score in the Premiership and, more important, ended a league drought for West Ham lasting a depressing eight hours 29 minutes. Timing has always been a Sheringham strength and he showed he has not lost that quality by finding the net on such a vital afternoon for club and manager.
Teddy himself:
'That feels very good. That is probably the most nervous match I've ever been involved in. It was so shaky. Getting to 2-1 in the last minute and then seeing their effort just go over the bar in the last seconds. It could have been so different but we're happy.
'The first goal was always going to be the most important. We needed to get off to a good start. If Blackburn had got the first goal it could have been very difficult for us in the circumstances.
'But we got in front and that gave us a little bit of a platform. Something to keep hold of when we were defending. Is there a secret to still be playing at my age? I'm very lucky. These boys keep me young.'