Alan Curbishley has challenged his West Ham team to finish the season the same way they did the last.

An amazing run of seven wins in their last nine games helped the club to avoid relegation last term.

There is not the same worry about avoiding the drop this time, but Curbishley is determined not to let the campaign peter out after the 2-1 defeat at Sunderland on Saturday. The manager said: "You can build the foundations by staying up and become a little bit more attractive to players.

"Sunderland have gone for it and if they stay up, they've got their rewards for it because next year is another season."

The Hammers suffered another injury as Freddie Ljungberg pulled his hamstring. Curbishley will discover today whether the Swede will play again this season but the signs don't look good.

"My team have done fantastically well considering the problems they have had," he added.

"It's just ridiculous because we had four centre-halves, two wide players and three strikers out. It is so frustrating."