Swansea boss Michael Laudrup has praised Sam Allardyce's approach to management ahead of their meeting on Sunday. The Hammers boss has long argued he does not deserve to be pigeon-holed as a long-ball manager, but Laudrup does not see that tag as an insult.
He said: "I like managers and teams who are very clear about what they want. There is not one truth in football. There is more than one way to play.
"People tend to think the winner is always right, but I always respect people who are very clear in what they want and what they are doing.
"There are some who say one thing and do another, but Sam Allardyce is very honest in what he wants and what he asks from his players.
"They are very strong and when we played them away last year they were very good so we know it will be difficult.
"They were very strong, physical and direct. They had Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan up front. We know Carroll is not there for this game but we saw how strong they are the last time they played away against Tottenham, where they won 3-0. It will be tough."
