View from the Hammers camp.

Ahead of this weekends game, Bitter and Blue took time out from its hectic schedule to put a few questions to West Ham site Upton lark to gage their view of Sundays clash and also how they think they have fared so far this season.

Both sides have made decent starts. How do you see the game going?

Should be an open game, both teams like to pass the ball. Fancy a score draw myself, maybe 1-1. Definitely goals, we've got 20 between us already.

Any City players you are concerned about? Who should we be looking out for?

All your forward line! Vassell, Cole and Fowler have all scored against us in the past. Wouldn't put it past Sinclair to come back and haunt us, or god forbid it David James from a corner! As for us, I'd say Yossi Benayoun could be the key. Very skillful player who's already weighed in with a couple of goals.

Any memories of games against City in the past?

Yeah, remember a 4-2 at Upton Park a while back. Some crackers scored in that game. Remember sneaking past you in the FA Cup too when City old-boy Steve Lomas got the winner. Usually goals, can't remember many 0-0's.

You've made a decent start. Has that suprised you? What do you think of the standard of the Premiership so far compared to the Championship?

I think we've done a bit better than we'd expected at this stage. I expected to be in the lower third somewhere, so well happy at the moment. The problem with the Championship is it's so scrappy and theres less opportunity to play attractive football (and people moan the Prem is negative). Obviously in the Premiership you get more opportunity to play which is more in keeping with our style. The main difference is you get punished for your errors because of the quality in the Prem, but we're doing ok so far.

Has Pardew won the fans round? From the outside it seems he was not the most popular man last season.

I think people read into this Pardew thing too much, thanks to how the media portray it. The anti-Pardew mob at West Ham have always been in a minority. It's all blown out of proportion. Most people appreciate the job he's doing and did last season too. I'm sure he's shut up most the doubters now anyway.

Realistically, where do you think you will finish come the end of the season?

Would of taken 17th at the start, but mid-table seems achievable on current form. I'd be well happy with say 10th or there-abouts.

Where do you think City will finish come the end of the season?

Europe has to be a target and most likely the UEFA Cup if anything. But I do reckon that 4th 'Champions League' spot is there for the taking if anyone can put a run of consistency together. Might be just beyond you, but certainly Everton have no chance of finishing there again.