Hull City has a place in the Premiership

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By Pete and Brigette Marsden

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Remember what we said at the start of the season about the three newly-promoted teams and their chances of winning the league? Well, despite our predictions of almost certain relegation, one of the teams - Hull City - continues to go from strength to strength and does not look at all out of place in the Premiership.

This week saw them rise to the giddy heights of third place thanks to a 1-0 away win at struggling Tottenham Hotspur, which was largely due to the fine goalkeeping of Boaz Myhill, who managed to stop no less than 16 shots on target.

Chelsea and Liverpool continue to lead the way, separated only by goal difference. Chelsea stay on top after a comfortable 2-0 win over Aston Villa, while Liverpool had to work very hard for their come-from-behind win at big-spending Manchester City: they trailed 2-0 at half time but hit back in the second half to score three times, with the winner coming just seconds from the full-time whistle.

Manchester United, after an indifferent start to the season, are beginning to rise up the table: this week Blackburn Rovers, managed by former Man United midfielder Paul Ince, never really troubled the United goalkeeper and the rain-lashed game ended 2-0 to the Red Devils.

Those who departed early from the Stadium of Light towards the end of a disappointing game between Sunderland and Arsenal would have missed all the action: Sunderland's only goal came four minutes from full-time and Arsenal's equalizer was scored three minutes into time added on, to end it 1-1. One point was enough to keep the Gunners in fourth place.

Joe Kinnear got his first point as Newcastle United manager away to Everton. It wasn't looking so good, with United trailing 2-0 in the first half, but they managed to hit back and ended the game 2-2, taking a much-needed point back to the North-East.

Unfortunately it wasn't enough to lift them out of the bottom three.

Stoke City's 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth saw them drop one place to second from bottom. Spurs - with just two points and yet to win a game - still occupy the bottom spot after their defeat against Hull, making this their worst start to a season in 96 years.

West Bromwich Albion moved into the top half of the table thanks to a 1-0 home win over Fulham. Bolton turned in an impressive performance at West Ham United, thrashing them 3-1. Middlesborough traveled to the JJB stadium to take on Wigan Athletic, returning home with all three points after an 89th minute goal secured them a 1-0 win.

There won't be any Premiership fixtures next week, as World Cup qualifiers once again take precedence.

England will take on two Eastern European teams, Kazakhstan and Belarus.