Allardyce not taking Villa lightly

The Hammers secured a return to the top flight via the play-offs last season, bouncing back at the first attempt after relegation under Avram Grant.

First up for the East London side is Villa and, while quietly confident of three points, Allardyce rejected the notion that the fixture is an easy one.

"Everybody thought that Cardiff City at home was a comfortable start last season and we got beat 1-0 in the last minute," he said.

"I don't think there is any kind of comfortable start in the Premier League.

"I think there is a possibility that we can get off to a good start if we give a good performance.

"What we are looking for a good performance by our players and that might give us a chance to win the first game here at Upton Park at the start of a new Premier League season.

"I think we all need to be a little apprehensive, certainly myself because it doesn't matter how good or bad I think we are, I won't really know until we play Barclays Premier League games."

While West Ham will be making its return to the top flight, the match will also mark Paul Lambert's first match at the Villa helm since leaving Norwich.

"I am expecting a pretty determined and well organised side," Allardyce said.

"Paul's record in terms of moving into a new club and producing results almost immediately stands there in front of everybody.

"I think that he will get them playing a system that suits the players and playing the best they possibly can play.

"For us it's about making sure we are on top of our game because we're obviously playing a well-established Premier League side.

"While we have got some players with Premier League experience, it's been a year since we have been there.

"We are looking forward to getting back there and hopefully we can deliver in terms of expectations and, of course, try and win as many games as we can, starting with the first one.

"The first game is as important as the last game, and if you can win the first game it gets everybody off to a nice, pleasant start.

"You try and get three points in the bag and try and move forward.

"It builds the confidence of all the players at a club and it gets rid of any anxiety anybody may have, or at least reduce what they have of can they really reproduce in the Premier League and produce performances, as last time we were there we were relegated."

Jack Collison will miss the season opener after aggravating an existing knee injury towards the end of last season, which has seen him miss pre-season.

Fellow Wales international James Collins is fit to face his former club after a groin injury, but manager Allardyce revealed his signings from overseas, Alou Diarra and Modibo Maiga, will not start.