Sharp Sears brings relief for Curbishley

ALAN CURBISHLEY last week called for his experienced players to spark his side back into action. But in the event it took young debutant Freddie Sears to breathe life into West Ham’s campaign.

Curbishley has bemoaned his luck this season as his summer signings have been hit by injuries, but the situation has given Sears, James Tomkins and Jack Collison their chance around the first team.

Sears took six minutes after coming off the bench to make his mark with the winner against Blackburn to end West Ham’s run of three successive 4-0 defeats.

“He’s been around us for two months, the same as Tomkins and Collison,” said Curbishley.

“It has given the young boys an opportunity to be part of it and around us. That will remain the same until the end of the season now.”

Curbishley also sees a potential partnership between Sears and Dean Ashton, who scored West Ham’s first after Roque Santa Cruz had opened the scoring. Ashton’s goal led to David Dunn turning on Christopher Samba — their ugly confrontation carrying on into the dressing room at the interval.

England winger David Bentley said: “I was the peacemaker, but sometimes you have to be told. Nothing can be personal — you win and lose as a team. There was a little bit in the dressing room, but it is all constructive. It did all kick off, but that is part of football.”

The half-time inquest appeared to have a negative effect on Blackburn, Sears seizing his moment nine minutes from full-time.

“He is a West Ham boy and to score on his debut is great,” said Freddie Ljungberg. “I am really, really pleased for him. Everybody is.”

With Blackburn struggling to qualify for Europe, the attention will switch to whether they can keep hold of players such as Bentley and Santa Cruz in the summer.

“With the ability we have, we might not be the biggest club. But we’ve got top-quality individuals and probably haven’t brought it together as a team,” said Bentley.

“Each player is ambitious — as are the manager, the chairman and the club. You want to sign big players and we hope there will be some investment in the club. The players here have the ability to be in a top team.”

Meanwhile, West Ham are expected to announce Gianluca Nani as their new technical director at a press conference this afternoon. The Italian could also have a role with the West Ham academy.

WEST HAM (4-4-2): Green 6, Neill 6, Ferdinand 5, Spector 5, McCartney 5, Solano 6 (Sears 75, 7), Parker 7 (Noble 75, 6), Mullins, 6, Ljungberg 6 (Pantsil 88, 5), Ashton 8, Zamora 6.

Subs Not Used: Wright, Tomkins.

BLACKBURN (4-4-2): Friedel 7, Emerton 5 (Khizanishvili 46, 6), Samba 7, Ooijer 6, Warnock 7, Bentley 7, Reid 7, Dunn 7 (Derbyshire 71, 5), Pedersen 6 (McCarthy 90, 5), Roberts 6, Santa Cruz 7.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Mokoena.

REFEREE: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire) 7: Totally assured and allowed the game to keep its flow.

MATCH RATING: *** Slick and entertaining for the most part, with a fairytale finish.