Jewell and Jimmy on Hammers trip

Paul Jewell: Happy with his sides attacking football

The manager, Paul Jewell, is not suprised with how well the two clubs are doing this season, but is pleased that two teams playing attacking football are doing so well.

He said: "It is great ourselves and West Ham seem to have approached playing in the Premiership in a positive manner. We have not come in and tried to shut up shop, but then neither have we been silly.

"We have tried to win games rather than just avoid being beaten, and so far it has paid dividends for us both. It gives other teams who come up a hope that not all is lost.

"West Ham are a great club with a big tradition. They have good players, a good team spirit and the manager has done exceptionally well.

"He [Pardew] endured unbelievable pressure nearly every week it seemed last season. He was always looking over his shoulder. But he has come through it and he will be stronger for it."

Jewell is expected to make changes for the game to help keep his side fresh. The Latics were involved in a thriller of a game on Boxing day with Manchester City, and that will have taken plenty of energy out his regulars.

Josip Skoko, Ryan Taylor and another former Hammer, David Connolly are said to be pushing for starting places.

Jimmy Bullard: Returning to West Ham tonight

Meanwhile Jimmy Bullard will be visiting one of his former clubs tonight as he seems set to line-up in midfield against the Hammers.

The 26 year old midfielder has become a record breaker for the Latics with the most consecutive appearances for the club. A record he will extend further with tonight's visit to the Boleyn Ground.

Bullard is disappointed that he did not make more of his time at West Ham and is looking forward to showing the Hammers what they missed out on. He said: "It was like nothing I had ever known, yet I knew the only way to get through it was to get on with it and be myself. I ended up chatting with them every day, as friends do. I managed to settle down and found out they were decent, normal guys who shared a love for the game.

"It's frustrating in a way that I didn't make the most of my chance at West Ham. I was there for over two years and didn't really get to play, but it was still a great experience for me.

"Of course I was disappointed to leave because they were my club as a boy. But I don't look at the negatives. I always say West Ham helped me get where I am today. I was playing with a great coach in Harry Redknapp and with top-class players.

"There was Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Paolo di Canio. When you play with those sort of players day in day out, you learn so much."

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