WEST Ham boss Alan praised Anton Ferdinand following Saturday's defeat at Sunderland.

The 23-year-old has taken up the role as the senior player in a Hammers back line hit by injuries to Matty Upson, Danny Gabbidon, James Collins and Calum Davenport.

He partnered both Jonathan Spector and James Tomkins in the 2-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light, and Curbishley said: "I think Anton has done great, to be honest.

"We started off with Spector there, then Tomkins has had to come on and Specs has gone to left-back then right-back.

"We were pulling people all over the place and filling in and, to be fair, I thought we did it well enough to get a point.

"It's been very difficult - you can see the disruption."

The Hammers looked like they had battled their way to a hard-earned point before Andy Reid struck the Black Cats winner six minutes into stoppage time.

And that after Freddie Ljungberg had been stretchered off to leave the Irons - who had already made three substitutions - down to ten men in the remaining ten minutes.

However, the Irons boss was still not best pleased with conceding so late in the match.

"The nature of the goal in the end, in the last minute with 30 seconds to go, we allowed Reid to get in between two people and it was clearable. So we're very disappointed," said Curbishley, who also saw John Pantsil, George McCartney and Carlton Cole all withdraw injured early from the action.

"In the second half they put a lot of pressure on us without creating much.

"They had a good chance with 10 minutes to go but I thought we'd got a point."

On the injuries, he added: "It has just been the story of the season - lots of people have been out in injured long-term and the players that have been playing have had to play every week without a break and we've took another couple of injuries.

"Everyone can see, if they care to look at the back of the programme, the problems we've had.

"Great credit to the players that have been playing. I've got no complaints."

While Gabbidon, Collins and Davenport are out for the season, Upson - who has been missing for for four games with a calf injury - could be back in contention for the Premier League encounter with Portsmouth at Upton Park next Tuesday.

"We'll have to see if Upson will be right for Portsmouth," said Curbishley.

"We don't want to put anyone at risk so we'll just have to see what we've got."