EXPECTATIONS that West Ham United can mount a significant Premier League threat this season, thus avoiding another prolonged battle with relegation, increased yesterday with a morale-boosting victory over AS Roma, one of the aristocrats of Italian football.

Against considerably talented, albeit unfit, opponents – the Serie A season does not start for another three weeks – the Hammers completed their preseason programme with their fourth victory in eight matches. At times, though, this did not seem much like a friendly, given the number of cynical fouls and aggressive, full-blooded challenges, but it was the manner of the performance, particularly after half-time, and the rehabilitation of striker Dean Ashton, which would have been encouraging for Alan Curbishley.

“Deano has worked ever so hard, perhaps two months more than the others, to come back fully fit,” the manager said. “I had never seen him play or even train before. The last three weeks have been an insight.”

If this was the closest resemblance to West Ham’s strongest first-team lineup – although Ashton started on the bench and midfielder Scott Parker is currently “50/50” for the opening match with Manchester City – then, perhaps, Curbishley will be finally judged on what he has signed and not inherited from Alan Pardew.

Five of those aforementioned players were involved here but Kieron Dyer is not joining them.

“We made an offer [£6m], had it accepted, agreed personal terms, the player passed a medical and it was pulled at the eleventh hour by Newcastle,” revealed Curbishley. “There’s not much we can do about it. It is definitely off.”

With Carlos Tevez’s protracted transfer to Manchester United set to be resolved shortly, Curbishley admitted that it has been a testing summer for the club. “Every day we were on the back pages. I am disappointed that [Tevez] didn’t want to come back to us. I spoke to him and the club have been in dialogue. Once United came in, he decided his future was elsewhere.”

The day began badly for the hosts as Ludovic Giuly guided a shot beyond the powerless Robert Green on 13 minutes. Roma’s attacking prowess was superb to watch in the first half with Francesco Totti the principal architect.

However, the last time that Roma played in England they lost 7-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford in the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League, and the defensive frailties that plagued them then returned in the second half. From Freddie Ljungberg’s corner, defender George McCartney leapt highest in a crowded penalty area to direct a powerful header home.

Ashton, who did not play last season after breaking his ankle while training with the national team, was introduced at half-time and evidence of his burgeoning class came shortly before the hour when he received the ball on the right-hand wing, skipped past one feeble challenge and then slid the ball through the legs of Curci. “It has been a long year for him but he has a thrown down a marker [to the rest of the team],” said Curbishley.

Star man: Dean Ashton(West Ham United)

West Ham United:Green (Wright, ht), Neill, Ferdinand (Gabbidon, 86min), Upson, McCartney, Ljungberg (Pantsil, 73min), Bowyer (Cole, 86min), Noble, Boa Morte (Etherington, 28min), Zamora (Ashton, ht), Bellamy (Mullins, 78min)

AS Roma:Curci, Panucci, Mexes, Kuffour (Cassetti, ht; Rosi, 59min]), Tonetto, Esposito (Brighi, 55min), De Rossi (Apimah Barusso, 76min), Aquilani (Vucinic, 69min), Ferrante Taddei (Alvarez, 76min), Giuly (Florin Pitt, 84min), Totti (Nonda, 76min)

Scorers: West Ham:McCartney 63, Ashton 66 AS Roma:Giuly 13

Referee:H Webb Attendance:26,425