West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce expects to stay up.

The boss insists he thrives on pressure and goes into the opener against Aston Villa with new signings James Collins and Jussi Jaaskelainen set to start.

Allardyce said: "We're expected to stay up. The pressure is constant but I put myself under more pressure.

"My life is about winning and standards, and demanding standards from everybody who works with me."