Friday 21 September 2012 22:15, UK
Sam Allardyce knows West Ham United will not be in for an easy game when they take on Sunderland at Upton Park on Saturday.
Despite Allardyce playing down West Ham's positive start, it has been in marked contrast to the other two sides who were both promoted ahead of the East London club. Indeed, Southampton, runners-up to Reading in May, currently sit rock bottom with four successive defeats - the last of which was a 6-1 mauling at Arsenal. Allardyce, though, accepts it may not always be such a smooth ride for the Irons as they look to establish themselves among England's elite clubs once again. "We are very pleased with the start we have made. Unfortunately for Southampton and Reading, they haven't been able to do the same but admittedly the fixture list was much kinder to us," he said. "Pressure will be on every team at some point in the season, their tough time happens to be right now because they haven't picked up many points, but based on the games they have played that is understandable. "It is a marathon not a sprint, but as we all know pressure is heaped on you, especially in this league, if you don't start well."
