ON November 10, 2007, West Ham left Pride Park having thrashed Derby County 5-0 and matched their biggest ever away win in the top-flight.

That evening the Irons sat ninth in the Premier League table, just a point and a place below Everton and six points adrift of title-chasers Liverpool and Chelsea.

Five months on and Derby have already been relegated, while Everton are odds-on for a UEFA Cup place and both Liverpool and Chelsea look set to secure spots in next season's Champions League.

West Ham, meanwhile, have drifted listlessly in mid-table and head into tomorrow's game with little more than pride and their end-of-season bonuses to play for.

A run of six defeats in eight matches has extinguished any hopes manager Alan Curbishley - whose efforts have been curtailed by a crippling injury crisis that was already in full-swing last November - had of taking his team to a top-eight finish.

Since their grand day out in the East Midlands, the Hammers have won just seven of their 22 Premier League matches, spending the entire time marooned in the no man's land of 10th place.

And while many supporters are happy to have been spared a repeat of last season's relegation battle, midfielder Hayden Mullins - one of the few Irons players to remain injury-free for the majority of the season - is looking for Curbishley's men to finish strongly.

"I think compared to last season when we would turn up to places and not look like we were going to get anything, this time in a lot of games we have turned up and we've looked like the team who are forcing it," said the midfielder.

"We went to Everton (and drew 1-1 on March 22) who are a very good side at home and for 60 or 70 minutes we were running the game and with Freddie hitting the post, we were very unlucky not to get the win there.

"So a lot of times this season we have played very well."

And Mullins believes that if the Irons can end the season on a high, it will stand them in good stead ahead of a 2008/09 season that should see Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy, Danny Gabbidon, Matty Etherington and Lee Bowyer all back in action.

"We have to get on with it. The injuries we have had this season are something I have never seen before at this club," said the 29-year-old. "Hopefully if everyone stays fit next year, we can be looking at a top six place, which is what we are all aiming for."

Curbishley could be boosted by the return of captain Lucas Neill (ankle) and midfielders Julien Faubert (calf), Freddie Ljungberg and Mark Noble (both hamstring) tomorrow.

However, Derby's visit has come too soon for winger Matty Etherington (groin), who is due to return to full training next week, but Henri Camara is out.

West Ham: (from) Green, Walker, Neill, Spector, McCartney, Ferdinand, Upson, Tomkins, Mullins, Parker, Noble, Collison, Pantsil, Ljungberg, Faubert, Solano, Boa Morte, Ashton, Cole, Zamora, Sears.