Hammers fans curb their enthusiasm

AFTER narrowly avoiding relegation, most fans would celebrate a top-half finish with the sort of gusto usually reserved for Champions League winners.

But West Ham manager Alan Curbishley now finds himself under fire after a season of trying to cope with a devastating injury list and saw his side booed off the pitch after this scrappy win over doomed Derby.

Curbishley went into the game with 14 first-team players on the sick list but when he chose to substitute youngster Freddie Sears with Carlton Cole, the chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing” rang out at the Boleyn Ground.

Curbishley had the last laugh, though, when Cole scored the winner two minutes after his introduction.

“Our injury situation falls into three categories,” Curbishley said. “We have got five or six permanent injuries which are long-term and impact injuries,” said Curbishley.

“We have got four players who have had stomach injuries for most of the season. Then you add the three or four wear-and-tear injuries, a hamstring or calf that every club gets, and it takes you up to 14. This group of players have stood up most weeks to be counted when we have unbelievable problems, so I think we should have more appreciation.”

West Ham took a 20th-minute lead when Bobby Zamora headed home a free kick but Derby battled back with a fine 64th-minute Tyrone Mears equaliser. The game was petering out until Cole’s introduction although it was not enough for the fans to bite their tongues.

WEST HAM (4-4-2): Green 7, Pantsil 5, Tomkins 5, Neill 6, McCartney 6, Faubert 4 (Solano 78, 6), Noble 7, Parker 7, Ljungberg 5 (Boa Morte 90, 5), Sears 6 (Cole 74, 7), Zamora 6.

Subs Not Used: Walker, Mullins.

DERBY (4-4-2): Carroll 6, Todd 6 (McEveley 83, 6), Leacock 4, Stubbs 5, Lewis 4, Mears 6, Ghaly 4, Savage 5, Jones 7 (Villa 75, 5), Sterjovski 5, Miller 6.

Subs Not Used: Price, Feilhaber, Moore.

REFEREE: Steve Tanner (Somerset) 6: Few problems on a generally quiet afternoon.

MATCH RATING: ** West Ham fans were livid in victory, Derby’s delighted in defeat.