Alan Curbishley admitted both he and his players were shocked and disappointed to be booed off the Upton Park pitch after Saturday's 2-1 Premier League win over relegated Derby County.

Despite securing their first win in five matches through Carlton Cole's 77th-minute volley, the Irons were treated to a barrage of jeers at the final whistle.

Afterwards, Curbishley pleaded with the club's supporters to be patient and "appreciate" the club's unprecedented injury problems.

A total of 14 first team players - including six central defenders - were unavailable for Saturday's game, forcing Curbishley to hand Basildon teenager James Tomkins his full home debut alongside captain Lucas Neill at the heart of the Hammers back-four.

Mark Noble, Freddie Ljungberg and Julien Faubert all returned to the midfield against the Rams after spells on the sidelines, while John Pantsil made just his fourth start of the season at right-back.

"I'm a bit disappointed because there is not too much appreciation of what is going on, what we've had to put up with this year," claimed the manager.

"We lost Anton Ferdinand last week (at Bolton) in the first minute and this week we lost Matthew Upson and Jonathan Spector - that counts for six centre halves.

"The young boy Tomkins came in again which I've got no problems with."

"We had to put Lucas Neill to centre half and we had three players returning from injury.

"Freddie had been out three weeks, Noble about the same and Faubert has been out a long while and you could see that they need time, so I don't think there is a lot of appreciation going on at the moment, but I can't do too much about that."

Curbishley also conceded that his players had been left equally perturbed by the lukewarm reception to a victory that should ensure the Irons end the season inside the Premier League's top-ten.

But the manager admitted that the reaction was part and parcel of playing in front of some the most passionate fans in the country.

"The players are very disappointed," he added.

"I know what happens here, you put the results together and it turns the other way.

"When the team is winning, (other clubs) don't like coming here because of the backing we get, but when they are not happy they let you know, but surely there has got to be some realism and appreciation of what has happened to us this year.

"Week-in, week-out we have been under the cosh. I have been very appreciative and complimentary to the players who have been playing all season because we have had loads of problems.

"Players have been missing all year and I think we was up to 14 today."