Kevin Nolan's goal five minutes before the break proved to be the difference between the two sides, with the hosts going close to adding to their advantage on several occasions.

"It ended up a very good day," Allardyce told BBC Sport.

"We got a win and a clean sheet. There were a lot of good performances and it was very pleasing for everyone at West Ham to get off to a very, very good start.

"James Collins coming back was very solid in defence. That gave us the platform to go on and get this victory."

Nolan's 40th-minute winner initially looked as if it would be ruled out, with the assistant's flag going up for offside against Ricardo Vaz Te in the build up.

However, referee Mike Dean awarded the goal after determining that Villa's Ciaran Clark had got the final touch on the ball through to Vaz Te.

"I was thinking it was going to get chalked off immediately but then I saw Mike waving and pointing to the spot," Allardyce said.

"When you look at the TV he's clearly got it right. We started with great expectation and I think the fans have gone home happy that we've won our first home game."

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert had no complaints about the goal being awarded but rued his team's failure to take their opportunities in the first half.

"I wasn't sure at the time but I saw a tape afterwards and it came off one of our lads so I can't fault the ref," Lambert said.

"We started well but it's all very well having lots of ball but not if you don't score.

"We need to be able to service Darren Bent. Losing Gaby (Gabriel Agbonlahor) was a big blow to us before this game.

"You've got about three-and-a-half milliseconds to hit the ground running in the Premiership."