Alan Curbishley feels West Ham United can be happy with their Premier League start.

Sam Allardyce's men will entertain Aston Villa on the first day of the 2012/13 campaign before clashes with Swansea, Norwich, Fulham, Sunderland and QPR.

"No disrespect to the other teams but [West Ham] will be looking at that thinking: 'We have got an opportunity if we start right'," said Curbishley.

"A newly-promoted side comes into the Premier League a little bit unknown and you can take advantage of that."