Pardew banking on Hammers' 'exuberance'

Alan Pardew fully expects West Ham to face a no-nonsense approach from Bolton at Upton Park tomorrow, but feels his side have one or two tactics of their own to “worry” the visitors.

The east London side have made a promising start to their first top-flight campaign since 2003, and go into the weekend unbeaten with four points from their opening two matches.

West Ham recorded a 3-1 victory over Blackburn in their last home outing, and following a battling, goalless draw up at Newcastle, there is growing confidence Pardew’s men can claim another positive result tomorrow.

In Bolton, though, the Hammers manager knows his side will face arguably the strongest test of their fledgling Barclays Premiership credentials so far.

Sam Allardyce’s side will have been buoyed by a first win of the season over Newcastle in midweek, and are also preparing for their maiden European campaign in the UEFA Cup.

Much has been made of the way Allardyce’s men are drilled, making the most of any set-pieces chances, but combined well with the flare and unquestioned talent of their many international-class players such as Stelios Giannakopoulos, El Hadji Diouf and Jay-Jay Okocha.

And Pardew believes the Lancashire club can more than ruffle a few feathers again this season.

“They have a lot of experience in the team, a lot of established internationals from all corners of the globe, but brought together in a system they are all familiar with,” the West Ham manager reflected.

“There is a lot of talk about their set plays, and they do them very well - but what has impressed me most is their organisation as a team and they are very difficult to get at.”

However, the Hammers boss insisted: “We like to think we have got enough exuberance about us at the moment, and enough pace to worry them, and we hope that is the case.”

Pardew continued: “I saw them against Newcastle, and they are a top-six team.

“I believe Sam is set to make some more signings and if he does that, on top of what he has got, then they will have a real good chance of being in the UEFA Cup again.

“They do things really well, are very organised and have a lot of class in the team.

“I have been very impressed with them, and it is going to be a very difficult game for us.”

The other newly-promoted sides, Wigan and Sunderland, have not fared as well as last season’s play-off winners from their early experiences of life among the elite clubs of English football.

Pardew, though, is not getting carried away.

“It is early days for us,” he accepted.

“We are very happy with the performance of some players who have not really had a taste of this, and they have all been terrific.

“But they still have to back it up each week in this division – and that is the pressure of the Premiership. It is not about three weeks, it is about nine months.”

Pardew further strengthened his attacking options this week with the loan signing of Jeremie Aliadiere from Arsenal.

The French under-21 striker had been playing in Scotland with Celtic, but was quick to accept the chance for a swift return to London when the Hammers stepped up their interest.

And with fellow frontman David Bellion, on a season-long deal from Manchester United, also closing in on match fitness, Pardew now feels more comfortable with the balance of his squad.

The West Ham boss, however, did not rule out the prospect of more signings before the transfer window closes next week.

“I have got two names in every position now, and that is where you need to be in the Premiership,” he reflected.

“I am, though, going to see how the next four or five days go.

“If there is something which raised its head which will improve us, then I might go for it.

“Signing a player of Jeremie’s class on loan has saved me a packet in a transfer fee, so I have got a bit to put to one side, although we might need that in the next window.”