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Steve McClaren probably never imagined that he would curse the news that Emile Heskey is injured, but at the same time as England’s unlikely hero was nursing a fractured foot, an obvious replacement was proving a point at Upton Park. Dean Ashton scored his first league goal since March last year and said that he wanted “to fight for that place” alongside Michael Owen for England.

In the meantime, Alan Curbishley, the West Ham United manager, is just pleased to have available a striker whose absence through a broken ankle seemed to be central to the club’s problems last season.

“When we had that bad run last year, I started looking back at the tapes of the games from the previous year and I saw the impact he had in bringing other people into the game,” Curbishley said. “I’ve been as desperate as everyone else to have him back.”

Ashton said that he remained optimistic by watching footage of himself scoring goals, while the club has hired a sports psychologist, Roberto Forzoni, who has recently worked with Andy Murray, the British No 1 tennis player. “I speak to him [Forzoni] when I need to,” Ashton said. “He is a good man to have around the place.”

Gareth Southgate must be wondering if West Ham also use the services of a witch doctor. His team made a mockery of the home side’s offside trap but failed to take their chances, with Tuncay Sanli the man who squandered so many that he apologised afterwards to his teammates.

A dull first half was only enlivened by a shot from Jérémie Aliadière that hit a post. The second period, however, opened at a blistering pace with Lee Bowyer scoring almost immediately. Luke Young then put the ball in his own net before Ashton latched on to Matthew Etherington’s pass to score West Ham’s third. The home team’s fans rejoiced at the third goal; they, too, have missed Ashton.

“All I’ve said is that I want a solid season so we can build,” Curbishley said. “The last four years at West Ham, they have got to a play-off final and lost, got to a play-off final and won, got to an FA Cup Final and lost and had a relegation battle they won. It’s been helter-skelter and I sat down with Eggert [Magnússon, the chairman] in the summer and said we need a nice solid season. He said, ‘Yes, Europe.’ ”

And who could blame Magnússon for ignoring a plea for a dull campaign? As Curbishley pointed out, he had £20 million of talent missing on Saturday in Julien Faubert, Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer. West Ham do not have a squad built for anything other than adventure.

West Ham United (442): R Green 6 – L Neill 5, J Collins 5, M Upson 5, G McCartney 5 – L Bowyer 7, M Noble 6, H Mullins 6, M Etherington 7 (sub: L Boa Morte, 78min) – C Bellamy 5 (sub: C Cole, 26 6), D Ashton 7 (sub: F Ljungberg, 81).Substitutes not used:R Wright, D Gabbi-don. Booked: Ljungberg, McCartney. Next: Newcastle United (a).

Middlesbrough (4-4-2): M Schwarzer 4 – L Young 4, J Woodgate 4, D Wheater 4, A Taylor 4 (sub: A Davies, 83) – G Boateng 6, J Arca 6, F Rochemback 5 (sub: G O’Neil, 68 6), S Downing 5 – J Aliadière 5 (sub: Tuncay Sanli, 30 5) – Mido 5. Substitutes not used: B Jones, Lee Dong Gook. Booked: Tuncay. Next: Sunderland (h).

Referee S Bennett

Attendance 34,351