Match Prediction: West Ham away

West Ham are in 6th place with four points. Considering their defeat was to Liverpool at Anfield and they got a draw at Vicarage Road, which isn't going to be an easy place for anyone this season, it's a respectable position.

I wrote off West Ham last season and it was a mistake. From what I saw last season they not only battled but at times played decent football; it's clear Pardew is a positive influence on the team.

West Ham were catapulted into the spotlight recently when they signed Argentinian pair Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. Nobody can doubt these two players are World class and as Pardew says 'can take the club to the next level', but I'm not so sure they will have an immediate impact; but I was wrong about West Ham last season so I'm not ruling out those two winning the game for West Ham.

We lost 4-0 last season but last season is history and I don't think you'll find anyone that doesn't attribute our performances from the past three seasons to David O'Leary. This time it will be different and I expect a much better and more focused display from Aston Villa.

West Ham need the win and they'll expect it but I've got to go with Villa on this one despite the flood of emails I'm likely to receive from West Ham fans in the next few hours.

We are beginning the Randylution and with Petrov likely to make his debut and either Bouma, Laursen and Baros looking like they could be about to make a return to first team action I think our confidence and belief on top of the great football we are seeing under Mr O'Neill will be enough to get past the claret and blue from London.

It's not going to be an easy game but I'm going to predict 2-1 to Villa; no self respecting West Ham fan would expect me to go any other way.