MIDFIELDER Thomas Hitzlsperger knows West Ham will have to play better against his former club this weekend.

The Hammers welcome Aston Villa, where the German enjoyed a successful spell, to Upton Park.

Hitzlsperger has been in fine form for West Ham since returning after his long-term injury. At the Reebok Stadium on Saturday, his two shots from distance were about all the Hammers could throw at the Bolton defence in a dire first-half performance.

Hitzlsperger said: "We've got six really big games coming up and I'm sure we won't play like that (against Bolton) again. It's in our own hands (survival) but we have got to improve massively on Saturday's performance."