Drunks! That's how we played, says angry Benayoun

Yossi Benayoun has accused his West Ham team-mates of playing like drunks' during their 6-0 mauling by Reading on New Year's Day and insisted they will be relegated unless they pull themselves together.

Read more

• Hayward: Smoke without the fire from Hammers' big-time Charlies

• Curbs must drive out his Baby Bentley boys

Manager Alan Curbishley incredibly gave his players the day off yesterday and Israel midfielder Benayoun said: "It was an absolute disgrace. I felt humiliated, we played like a bunch of drunks.

"The defence was shocking, we conceded five goals from five set-pieces. If things keep on as they are, we're definite to go down but I still believe we'll manage to get out of it."

Benayoun, who has been linked with a move in the transfer window, insisted he was not to blame: "That was my third match in succession and in our last game I was the best man on the pitch, but what could I have done against Reading? I only touched the ball twice."

Chairman Eggert Magnusson yesterday said: "There is no limit on the money available to the manager. If Alan identifies the targets then we will do our best to sign them, although they must be realistic. We are not a Chelsea in that respect."