Squad sheets: West Ham United v Aston Villa

West Ham are back in the Premier League and the task for their manager, Sam Allardyce, is clear – prevent the club suffering a fifth top-flight relegation in 24 years. He is aiming higher and wants his players to start the new campaign with a victory. That could prove tough against an Aston Villa side now under the charge of Paul Lambert, who, unlike his predecessor Alex McLeish, has the backing of the club's supporters. James Collins, who moved from Villa to West Ham in the summer, will make his home debut this afternoon. Sachin Nakrani Venue Upton Park, Saturday 3pm Tickets £36-52 (0871 222 2700) Last season n/a Referee Mike Dean Last season's matches 30 Y 109, R 4, 3.77 cards per game Odds West Ham 13-10 Aston Villa 11-5 Draw 9-4 West Ham Subs from Henderson, Spiegel, Reid, O'Brien, Potts, Spence, Diarra, O'Neil, Maïga, Maynard, Baldock, Piquionne, Driver, Moncur, Hall, Tombides Doubtful Diarra (match fitness), Maïga (match fitness), Nolan (toe) Injured Collison (knee, unknown) Suspended None Disciplinary record (last season) Y63 R6 Leading scorer (last season) Cole 14 Aston Villa Subs from Guzan, Marshall, Weimann, Stevens, Herd, Gardner, Bannan, Carruthers, Baker, Warnock, Hutton Doubtful None Injured Delfouneso (thigh, 25 Aug), Agbonlahor (knee, 15 Sep), Albrighton (metatarsal, 22 Sep), Dunne (groin, 30 Sep), Petrov (leukaemia, unknown) Suspended None Disciplinary record (last season) Y71 R2 Leading scorer (last season) Bent 9 Match pointers • These sides met on the opening day two seasons ago, with Villa winning 3-0 at home • Only relegated Wolves (23) dropped more points from winning positions than Villa (22) last season • West Ham have won only one of their last 11 top-flight meetings with Villa • Villa scored fewer headed goals (three) than any other side in the Premier League in 2011-12 • Ricardo Vaz Tê scored 20 league goals for Barnsley and West Ham last season but managed only three during almost seven years at Bolton