Losing 6-0 on New Year's Day was the lowest point of last season for Curbishley, one of the darkest days of his career, and despite their remarkable escape, the misery at the Madejski Stadium still lingers.

Curbishley famously said that it was Reading who wanted to be in the Premier League and "drive the Baby Bentley" and although he insists he was merely praising Steve Coppell's side, it was widely interpreted as an accusation that his own players were getting carried away with one successful season in the Premier League.

It took West Ham two months to emerge from their slump before they eventually completed their miraculous escape from relegation, inspired by Carlos Tevez, who was on the bench for the Reading nightmare.

Curbishley confirmed the squad will be looking at the thrashing again.

He said: "We'll go through it. I will show them bits of it because there are some things Reading do that they are good at and they will continue to do it this season."

The Hammers will have a different look this season, with Nigel Reo-Coker, Yossi Benayoun, Marlon Harewood and Paul Konchesky leaving over the summer, while Christian Dailly and Danny Gabbidon have not started a Premier League game this season.

The new-look side have had a mixed start to the campaign, and Curbishley wants to use last season's defeat as motivation to get themselves into mid-table before the international break.

"Last year was a disaster, in more ways than one," Curbishley said.

"We got what we deserved. It was a long 90 minutes and something we never want to go through again. We will remember it and hopefully try and put it right this weekend."

He added: "I won't forget it. We can't forget that and I don't think the fans will. It's something you look at and try to use it as a spur."

Curbishley's "Baby Bentley" comment will inevitably be remembered as the phrase to sum up the wretched situation the club found themselves in, although Curbishley insisted: "I was actually praising Reading, they wanted to stay in the Premier League and wanted all the trappings that came with it."

Curbishley was raging with his defenders at half-time during the thrashing, but he showed he is not afraid to have opinions in the dressing room by signing Craig Bellamy in the summer.

Defender Matthew Upson believes it is healthy to have plenty of personalities in the squad.

"There's a lot of characters here," said Upson. "That isn't a bad thing - you'd rather be in a changing room full of people who want to say their piece, have a row or do whatever they want to do, than one that's quiet.

"There is a lot to be said and players talk a lot. I think it is really healthy as long as it's constructive or afterwards you sit down and talk to each other if you'd had a fall-out.

"You don't have to really like each other as long as you respect each other and work hard for each other, it doesn't really matter what your personal relationship is.

"I think the players are mature enough to understand that and there haven't been any problems, and I'm sure there won't be."

Meanwhile, midfielder Lee Bowyer has targeted European qualification this season, adding: "We've brought good players in and we're moving in the right direction. We want to get into Europe."