Curbishley pleads for patient Ashton

ALAN CURBISHLEY has warned Dean Ashton he must remain patient as he looks to force his way back into the England squad.

New national team head coach Fabio Capello was watching from the stands at Upton Park on Saturday, as the Hammers were held to a frustrating draw by relegation-haunted Birmingham.

Injury-plagued Ashton failed to net for the fourth consecutive match and was the subject of criticism from the Upton Park faithful, but Curbishley rejected any notion there was a rift with the striker and insisted that in time Ashton would be firing on all cylinders in front of goal again.