West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has likened his match-winning midfielder Kevin Nolan to Premier League great David Platt.

Nolan scored the only goal of the game as the Hammers got their return to the top flight off to a winning start against Aston Villa yesterday.

Speaking afterwards, Allardyce said: "Kevin Nolan is like David Platt because he ghosts into the box without anyone knowing how he got there.

"We might have won by more. It was a good performance with a clean sheet."

Allardyce's men next face a trip to Swansea, who began their Premier League campaign with a 5-0 thumping of Queens Park Rangers.

Written by
Pascal Lemesre