The ex-Burnley head coach was appointed Hammers boss earlier on Wednesday before taking charge of the trip to the Bluebirds.

It couldn't have been a more disastrous start, trailing 3-0 after a Jack Moylan hat-trick.

Yet a second-half fightback led by Jarrod Bowen means they will travel to Ewood Park with something to build from.

"I got a lot of answers," Parker told BBC Radio London.

"I have been in football a long time because of the result and our comeback, which showed the amazing character in this group.

"It also showed elements that, with the changes at half-time, this is the team we will have to be.

"You come off the back of two bad results, and you're 3-0 down at half-time. To get back to 3-3 and we could've won it.

"The biggest thing is what I've learned, what we need to be and highlight that to the team.

"You can't expect to score four goals to win a game and that has been the case as well as slow starts.

"It'll be something we are working on."

West Ham sit eighth in the standings ahead of facing Rovers but Parker is under no illusions that the expectation is promotion.

"The expectation is to get promoted, of course," he said.

"I put that on myself and I know that. Every job I've gone into, it hasn't been two promotions with the same team.

"It's different teams, with different personalities, profiles. When you go in, you have to quickly work out which way to go.

"I wish it was one way but the players determine that. It was a big learning tonight, seeing the players and what I asked in the second half is how it will need to be.

"My expectation is to get this club playing in the Premier League. This group of players in the second half showed me that.

"It's a tough season, we'll have to be calm in moments but we are here to get out of the division."