Intro:

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce reflects on head coach Alan Irvine's dismissal by West Bromwich Albion before the two teams meet in the Premier League on New Year's Day.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English), Sam Allardyce:

(Q: Is it an advantage or a disadvantage playing a side that only last night sacked their manager?)

"I think initially it can be a disadvantage. I think that when West Brom players have experienced change - we did it last year, played West Brom when they changed their manager and we lost 1-0. But I think for us it is trying to re-establish not our own form, our own results. It was the first game we had lost in seven and I didn't think we deserved to lose it and we've just got to try and get back to winning ways."

SOUNDBITE: (English), Sam Allardyce:

"I don't know how much effect you can have as manager if you haven't worked with the team. I think you might have an effect by what you might say before the game but I'm sure he might leave it to the lads who are in charge to certainly select the team if that's the case. So we will wait and see - like I said, it is all about being aware of what they are in terms of their abilities but us to make sure that we are spot on on new year's day, there is no hangover from the two defeats we have suffered and hopefully get back to winning ways."