And that also represents a blow for England ahead of next month’s all-important Euro 2008 qualifiers with Israel and Russia, with the midfielder – a recent recruit from Newcastle at £6million – a regular in Steve McClaren’s squads.

Dyer had to cope with many injury problems during his time in the north-east and he now faces yet more months on the sidelines.

It had been a busy day for the Hammers before kick-off with talks on-going with Inter Milan over a loan move for Brazil forward Adriano.

Manager Alan Curbishley had earmarked this game for a first start since the 2006 FA Cup final for Dean Ashton, who is still striving for full fitness after suffering a broken ankle on England duty a year ago

But the striker’s partner Gemma, who is expecting their first child, went into labour and his manager

was forced into a rethink.

That meant the Hammers stuck with the previously-unproductive partnership of Bellamy and Bobby Zamora, who both had spells at Rovers as teenagers, and the latter sent an early header over from a good position.

Dyer’s misfortune arrived soon afterwards and it was immediately apparent the midfielder was in severe pain following Joe Jacobson’s challenge near the right flank, which referee Mike Jones penalised with a free-kick.

The midfielder stayed down a long while and was eventually carried off in the 13th minute to be replaced by Mark Noble.

Initial diagnosis before he was despatched to hospital was a double fracture.

Bellamy made sure there was to be no repeat of last season’s Carling Cup exit at a League One ground, when Chesterfield had beaten a West Ham side then still picked by Alan Pardew.

His two strikes before the break were his first since his £7.5million summer switch from Liverpool.

The first was made possible by Hayden Mullins, who won the ball in midfield, but the Welshman was still some 30 yards away from the Rovers goal when he decided to let fly his low drive eluded Steve Phillips’ dive to his right to nestle in the corner.

A trademark turn of speed conjured up the second in stoppage time after Lucas Neill had powered a long ball over an otherwise resilient Rovers back-line.

Goalkeeper Phillips had dithered coming off his line and regretted it as soon as Bellamy slotted past him with ease.

Rovers had been second best but still had their moments with Jacobson impressive down the left and certainly not affected by his leg-breaking tackle earlier on.

His cross picked out Richard Walker in space in the box but the striker headed straight at the visitors’ debutant goalkeeper Richard Wright.

The home side’s 14-match unbeaten run, that had seen them promoted via last season’s play-offs and Crystal Palace removed from the first round of this competition, was coming to an end but they refused to go down without a fight.

Rickie Lambert was denied by Wright’s alertness 10 minutes into the second period, with the former Everton reserve showing great agility in the 53rd minute to keep out the striker’s header after Jacobson had again caused problems on the left.

Lambert and Walker combined again to put the visitors under pressure and twice Ferdinand had to mop up in the box before Curbishley made a change by taking George McCartney off in favour of James Collins just after the hour mark.

Rovers made a trio of substitutions in the next 10 minutes and it was Lambert’s replacement, Andrew Williams, who ensured there would be a rousing end to this tie with a fine solo goal in the 72nd minute.

The substitute slipped past Anton Ferdinand with a neat turn in the box and crashed the ball past Wright.

Collins thought he had wrapped it up for the Hammers when his header bounced down off the crossbar but referee Mike Jones, having consulted the relevant linesman, ruled it had not crossed the line.

Rovers piled men forward, including goalkeeper Phillips, as the minutes ticked away but the Hammers’ re-jigged back-line held out.