Friday, 8th February, 2013
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes that Aston Villa have suffered this season not through a lack of effort, but through lapses in concentration at vital times in matches.
Allardyce takes his Hammers side to Villa Park on Sunday for a Premier League clash which Aston Villa will be desperate to win.
At present Paul Lambert’s men are inside the relegation zone and two points off safety, but they will have been boosted by their 3-3 draw at high-flying Everton last weekend.
Allardyce meanwhile is looking towards the top half of the table with West Ham, with the Hammers closer to Liverpool in seventh than they are to Aston Villa in 19th.
"There’s nothing wrong with Aston Villa’s effort and will to win, what’s cost them at times is a lapse of concentration", Allardyce told his morning press conference, via his club’s feed.
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And the former Newcastle manager explained that he is keen for his side to grab a win on the road, but they will need to be wary of Aston Villa.
"It does niggle me that we haven’t found the same level of performance away that we have done at home this season.
"We can ill afford to let Aston Villa make the same start they did at Everton last week.
"[Christian] Benteke is the biggest threat. He’s the focal point of most of their attacks, he’s producing in a team that’s been struggling."
West Ham beat Aston Villa in the earlier fixture between the two this season, winning 1-0 at Upton Park.
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