Sam Allardyce: 'Team spirit behind West Ham's success'

Sam Allardyce has said that "a really good team spirit" is the reason for West Ham United's strong start to life back in the Premier League.

The Championship playoff winners currently sit sixth in the table, having won five of their opening 11 games back in the top tier.

The club's manager told Sky Sports News: "There was a long pre-season for the players and obviously some good recruitment that seems to be paying off at the moment and a really good team spirit is the reason we are where we are at the moment.

"The way we have played, particularly in the games at home, have excited the fans and it has got us a very good start.

"18 points from 11 games is an excellent start when you have just been promoted back to the Premier League last year via the playoffs. Every credit must go to the squad of players that has been used, almost to its maximum now."

West Ham face Stoke on Monday evening.