West Ham United 0 Watford 1: Carroll the victim of Watford confidence trick

Confidence. Watford had it, West Ham did not. Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, said it was the decisive factor in this FA Cup fourth-round match. "The confidence is a major factor and we've got to get it back," he said.

The self-assured performances of last year have completely disappeared. Since Steven Gerrard's last-minute goal for Liverpool in the FA Cup final, the Hammers have suffered. A catalogue of bad injuries, starting with Dean Ashton's broken ankle in August, mixed with loss of form and bad luck have made this a painful season.

"Anybody would suffer if they lost a player like [Ashton], he was a major part of what the team did last year," Curbishley said. "Since losing in the FA Cup final there's never really been an environment conducive for a successful season."

Ashton's return could be the lift that West Ham need. The 23-year-old has been given an injection in his ankle to remove scar tissue, allowing him to start full running sessions this week. Curbishley is desperate for fit players and a regular starting XI. "We just can't seem to get a settled side. We get a decent result at Newcastle United but can't keep the same side today," he said.

After successive draws against Fulham and Newcastle, Curbishley had hoped this match would be a catalyst for a sustained run of victories. Instead Watford, who had beaten Blackburn 2-1four days earlier, looked more at ease and more likely to go on a run of their own.

Watford went ahead when Tommy Smith's cross was headed on by Darius Henderson. Roy Carroll, who had come to the edge of his box to collect the cross, was stranded and Anthony McNamee clipped the ball over the goalkeeper and into an empty net.

Carroll's error cost the Hammers the game, but they never really had the belief to take the lead or stage a comeback once behind.

"We're finding it difficult because when we go in front there's a little bit of panic and when we go behind there's panic," Curbishley said. "I said to [the players] yesterday [Friday] it's the best they trained this week and we looked forward to the game."

The belief ebbed away in the second half, but West Ham lacked cohesion and purpose throughout; a consequence, perhaps, of trying to fit the new signings Lucas Neill, Nigel Quashie and Luis Boa Morte into a depleted and inexperienced squad. Most of the West Ham players have not been in a situation like this before and Curbishley hopes they can recover mentally for the game against Liverpool tomorrow night.

In contrast, Adrian Boothroyd's men had focus and belief. "All through the side each man knows the job they have to do," Boothroyd said. "When you've not won for a long time, doubt might creep in but this lot are top of the league in terms of resilience."

What Curbishley would give for some of that.

Goal: McNamee (42) 0-1.

West Ham United (4-4-2): Carroll; Neill (Pantsil, 48), Dailly, Spector, McCartney; Newton (Sheringham, 66), Reo-Coker, Quashie, Boa Morte (Etherington, 77); Zamora, Cole. Substitutes not used: Green (gk), Mullins.

Watford (4-4-2): Foster; Mariappa,DeMerit, Mackay, Stewart; Smith, Francis, Bangura, McNamee (Powell, 62); Henderson, Bouazza. Substitutes not used: Chamberlain (gk), Doyley, Kabba, Ashikodi.

Referee: H Webb (South Yorkshire).

Booked: West Ham Neill, Cole.

Man of the match: Henderson.

Attendance: 31,168.