But the Hammers did themselves a huge favour with a first-half matchwinner from Bobby Zamora that sets them up for next week's crucial relegation clash with Wigan.

The Hammers remain second from bottom and while Curbishley was pleased with the effort against fifth-placed Everton, he is now demanding that his side produce it against lesser opposition.

Curbishley said: "I thought it was a terrific performance. When we give ourselves and the fans a chance to hang on to something, it makes a difference.

"We've been chasing too many games since I've been here. Some of the stuff we produced on the break and in our general play should have brought us more goals.

"Bobby has scored some terrific goals but he has got an injury and we keep patching him.

"But to be honest I think he is revelling in that. He is an honest player and when Everton lost Andrew Johnson after six minutes and they changed their shape, I asked him to do half-an-hour on the right and he did well.

"We've won four out of six and such a performance makes you wonder why it hasn't been there against teams around us.

"That's got to change against Wigan next week. But we haven't really given our fans something to sing about like we did today."

Curbishley admits he took a gamble in leaving a substitute goalkeeper out of his squad but he felt the tiring effects of their midweek defeat by Chelsea gave him little option.

Curbishley added: "It's only the second time in 750 games that I've done it. The other time was down to injuries and I had no spare goalkeeper. My 'keeper then got sent off!

"But because of the effects of the game on Wednesday some of the players felt tired. I felt I had to include an extra player and it was a bit of a gamble."

But Curbishley has renewed hope that his side can still avoid the drop.

He added: "I see the ability here every day in training but it hasn't gone out on the pitch a lot of times.

"But we've got to get at least 38 points to give ourselves a chance."

Everton manager David Moyes was disappointed that his side had nothing to show for their efforts and bemoaned the loss of their England international striker Andrew Johnson after just six minutes with an ankle injury.

Moyes declared: "Andrew got a knock on his ankle and it didn't help us. It threw us a little bit because he is a big part of how we play. I don't know how long he will be out for. It might just be a sprain.

"I thought they started better than us. We played well in the second half and I'm disappointed we didn't come away with something again. I was pleased with what we did after the first 20 or 30 minutes.

"I thought we were unlucky not to get anything. West Ham had to win and we warned the players they would come out fighting. Which they did.

"It was a terrific goal which he rifled into the top corner. It was a very good goal from their point of view and the back heel from Benayoun took two of our players out."