Well Done to Hull City & West Brom

Many congratulations go to Hull City on this cold, damp Sunday evening. Courageous and determined against Arsenal at the Emirates last week, they followed it up with a delightful victory over fellow north London side Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

If the Arsenal result was seen as a one off, then the east Yorkshire side proved once and for all that they belong in the Premiership by inflicting Tottenham’s fifth league defeat of the season, and in doing so, catapulted Phil Browns' side into the top three this evening.

Fourteen points from seven games is a wonderful start for the Tigers. No Hull fan in their wildest dreams could have imagined their side rubbing shoulders with the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and co at the top of the table, especially seven games into the season. After a long trip down the motorway to the capital, the result today will send the legions of Hull fans ecstatic as they head back up the M1.

As favourites to go straight back down to the first division by the bookies at the start of the season, it has been anything but hard work for the Tigers as both the players and their manager continue to surprise the Premiership.

It’s a testament to the hard work put in by Phil Browns' side that have seen them start off so well. What is surprising many football commentators this season is the way Hull play an attractive and at times, free flowing style of football, unaccustomed to newly promoted sides.  That plus some very good signings during the summer have given them a new found impetuous and belief at the club.

Both Hull City and West Bromwich Albion have shown first division sides with their eye on a promotion to the Premiership that with the right manager, hard work and good business during the transfer window, any team has the potential to compete at the very highest level in English football.

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Praise for Portsmouth and Liverpool

Praise also needs to be bestowed upon both Portsmouth and Liverpool today. Portsmouth’s 2-1 win over Stoke City today at Fratton Park has moved them up to seventh in the league. After a cagey start to the season both the teams’ fortunes and those of strike partnership Defoe and Crouch have seen Pompey surge up the league. Harry Redknapp has done well to stop the stem of goals conceded by his team and will now be looking to consolidate their top eight position.

Liverpool did remarkably well to take all three points at the City Of Manchester Stadium this afternoon. 2-0 down at half time, the Reds put in another backs’ to the wall display to make it three defeats in a row for Mark Hughes City side. Having shown the same fighting spirit that saw them come from behind to defeat Manchester United a few weeks back, they have again shown the resilience and never say die attitude that championship winning teams need across the course of the season.

Rafa Benitez's Liverpool side are now beginning to show signs this time round that they may, at last, have what it takes to lift the Premiership trophy come the end of the season. Whether they win the league this season or not, they are showing the qualities on the football pitch that will make them worthy title contenders alongside Chelsea and current champions Manchester United.

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A Very Blue Day for Chelsea

Having watched Chelsea flatter to deceive against Manchester United and Tottenham at home this season, it was refreshing to see them play so well against a tired looking Aston Villa side. Chelsea looked back to their best with wonderful movement and insightful crisp passing that danced around a Villa side lacking creativity and drive at Stamford Bridge. On paper this looked a dangerous game for Chelsea, yet from the off set, their play showed conviction and purpose as good move after good move culminated with fine saves from the Villa keeper Brad Friedal.

Martin O'Neills' talented Villa side are a quick and powerful team that, despite an inept performance today in London, will definitely be in with a chance of breaking into the top four this season. Chelsea, to the contrary, had a wonderful balance and imagination to their play this afternoon with both Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole playing at the very top of their game: From one to eleven, Chelsea looked very strong. However, only time will tell whether the eight first team players Chelsea have out injured at the moment will have a lasting affect in their push for a third Premiership glory in five seasons.