Captain Ron Vlaar has vowed Aston Villa’s set-piece softies will turn a corner when Sam Allardyce, Andy Carroll and Co attempt to strike a Hammer blow to their survival chances today.

An encounter with a West Ham team notorious for their direct style will give Villa’s creaking backline another stiff test this afternoon.

Vlaar and his defensive colleagues have the worst goals-against record in the Premier League having conceded 49 with almost a third of them – 16 – coming from set-pieces.

Eight of those deadball setbacks have come from corners with the other half from free-kicks and West Ham’s game plan is sure to revolve around getting high balls into the box.

Vlaar, himself, was at fault for the last gasp concession which cost Villa victory in their stirring 3-3 draw at Everton last weekend after failing to stop Marouane Fellaini.

And he admits West Ham hitman – and former Villa target – Carroll will be keen to play on their weaknesses after nodding in from a corner in Saturday’s win over Swansea.

“They will also know,” said Vlaar. “But I think we have improved on that. If you look at the last game, they had 20 corners and free-kicks all game. I think they all went well except one. It’s too bad that it cost us the three points.

“That’s something we work really hard on and, like I said, we’re improving on that and we really believe in each other and we can help each other.

“People will know our struggles. I bet they do, that’s what I would do.

“West Ham have a very strong team and play a lot of long balls. We know that so we have to be ready for that.

Admirer

“It’s something we have to take care of and focus on. We know the situation, I’m not afraid of that. We have to be ready for that.”

Vlaar and Carroll might have been lining up in the same claret and blue kit had financial constraints not put paid to Villa’s interest in the Liverpool loanee.

Manager Paul Lambert is an admirer of the £35 million former Newcastle striker, but quickly withdrew from the chase when Carroll’s wage demands were revealed.

The Villa Park faithful will not be too disappointed after Lambert recruited bargain Belgian battering ram Christian Benteke instead to bully opposition defenders.

But Vlaar admits Carroll will be a handful this afternoon after noting his impact for England at Euro 2012.

“He’s a very good player,” said Vlaar. “I remember his goal in the Euros against Sweden. It was top class. That’s his quality. We have to face that and deal with it and make sure he cannot come in that position. Also the crosses, we have to stop those.

“Carroll came from Newcastle right? He scored a lot and it was not easy for him at Liverpool I guess and now he is playing at West Ham.

“He was injured as well for a while. I think he has the ability to play at the highest level and he has qualities that is for sure. If you score goals like that it says something.”

Vlaar has shouldered the blame for the lapse which cost Villa all three points at Goodison Park last weekend, but he insists the team are determined to focus on the positives.

As one of the most experienced players in the squad, he knows that his team-mates are looking to him for leadership.

“For everybody it was frustrating but also for me,” he added. “I know my responsibility, so that moment for the Everton equaliser was bad.

“You have to learn and make sure it’s not happening again and think about why you did the things you did at that moment and analyse. It’s the only thing you can do.

“But I think there also were a lot of good moments in the game, for me and also for the team.

“I think we have to hold onto the things that went well and we played very well as a team.

“After the second half from Newcastle and the 90 minutes against Everton, that’s something we can build on and that’s the most important thing.

“Like I said, we believe in each other and that’s the most important thing. We definitely need a result now.”