Sam Allardyce: West Ham must maintain 'outstanding' start

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce hailed his team's "outstanding" start to the season but warned his players not to bask in the glory.

Kevin Nolan's goal gave the Hammers a 1-0 victory at Newcastle that moves them up to sixth in the Premier League in their first season since promotion.

Allardyce told BBC Sport: "A newly-promoted side picking up 18 points from 11 games is outstanding.

"But we need to make sure we don't switch off and take life too easy now."

Nolan's first-half strike against his former club gave West Ham their fifth league win of the season and followed an impressive 0-0 home draw with defending champions Manchester City.

But Allardyce wants his side to stay focussed ahead of a run in which they play Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool in successive games.

"We've done a great job up to now, drawing with Manchester City and beating Newcastle," said Allardyce. "Let's hope we can keep picking up points against the big boys."

West Ham's margin of victory could have been even greater if Andy Carroll had converted a late chance to open his Hammers account against his former club.

After exchanging passes with Nolan, Carroll's side-footed shot was saved one-handed by Magpies keeper Tim Krul.

"Andy Carroll is disappointed he didn't score but it was a really good save," added Allardyce. "He wants to get off the mark with that goal but he's our target man and that partnership with Nolan is outstanding.

"That's five Nolan has in 11 games. He gets the attacks flowing and reads the situation brilliantly in the box - he always seems to be in the right place at the right time."

West Ham's latest victory came in spite of losing three players - Matt Jarvis, Yossi Benayoun and George McCartney - to injury during the match.

Allardyce said McCartney's groin problem was the most serious of the three, but expects to have all three fit for their home fixture against Stoke on 19 November.