GERARD Houllier admits there will be no room for sentiment when he faces old friend Avram Grant at West Ham tomorrow.

Houllier knows Grant through his work with UEFA and has sympathy for the Hammers boss is plight in the dropzone.

But with Villa still unsure of safety, their friendship will be put to one side in the heat of battle at Upton Park.

"I know Avram well," said Houllier. "I have met him through football because obviously he was the Chelsea manager.

"The job of a manager is to be a realistic and you always have to look after your own club first.

"It will be the same for every manager in the league even if they are your friend.

"We fight for points and for places – although we are also man enough to remain friends.

"But for those 90 minutes we cannot be friends and do favours for each other."