Curbishley saw his side crushed 4-0 by Alan Pardew's Charlton at The Valley on Saturday, a result which took his dismal record to 11 Premiership games - including eight defeats - without a win since beating Manchester United in his opening match.

West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson quickly issued a statement saying he was "still fully committed" to the manager whose "job is not in danger," but Curbishley knows the same thing happened with Pardew just days before he was sacked on December 11.

"Don't worry about me. I'm a big boy," said Curbishley.

"Those fans, who earn a fraction of what the rest of us do, make great sacrifices.

"They turn up week after week, ready to give everything they've got, and we are just not giving them a lift.

"I've told the players I feel dreadful for the fans. We've had massive defeats."

Curbishley believes the outbreak of the chant "You're not fit to wear the shirt" which regularly accompanies the closing stages of West Ham games, is nothing more than a show of frustration.

He added: "I've heard it at a few other grounds as well and I think it has become just a trend.

"But for our fans it must be galling for them after last year (when West Ham finished in the top 10 in the Premiership and reached the FA Cup final).

"This was so unexpected and the fans have been the only constant since I've been here, supporting the side and giving all they've got.

"When I came in we beat United and then drew at Fulham and I thought, 'Blimey, there are two home games next and we've got a chance,' but we were beaten by both Portsmouth and Manchester City and since then we've just taken one massive knock after another."

Curbishley insists the rot set in long before he arrived with 13 defeats in 16 - including eight in a row - under Pardew, and added: "Alan (Pardew) copped it because of results and it will be results that will decide what happens to me.

"But we've got 10 games left and have to decide whether we are going down with a whimper or are we going to fight for it.

"I would give anything to be able to field a settled team but, like Alan, I have not been able to do so for one reason or another."

Even so, Curbishley knows he must get his best players back on the pitch as soon as possible with a daunting run-in to face, starting with Tottenham at home on Sunday and visits to Arsenal and Manchester United plus Chelsea's visit.

But £7.25million striker Dean Ashton, who has not played since breaking an ankle while training with England in August, was not included in Monday night's reserve game against Charlton.

Ashton is back "in full running" and Matthew Upson - who damaged a calf muscle just 28 minutes into his debut - had two days training last week but was not risked at Charlton on Saturday.

West Ham physio Steve Allen told the club's website, www.whufc.com: "Dean has undergone some intensive treatment recently and stepped up his level of rehab, and we are delighted with the progress he has made.

"But he has worked particularly hard on the training field and, for that reason, we don't believe it would be in his best interests to play in the reserve match against Charlton.

"At this stage his rest and recovery is just as important."