Premier League: Can West Brom and West Ham keep it going?

West Brom's Zoltan Gera
Hannah Duncan assesses two sides who have defied expectations this season and asks if they can maintain their good form as the season develops...
There's a break from Premier League action this weekend as more World Cup qualifiers take place, giving top flight clubs a chance to reflect on the opening exchanges of the season.
Despite some sides making poor starts to the campaign, no manager has yet been given the boot - although one or two may be using the weekend off to update their CVs - while others will be knocking on the chairman's door and asking for a pay rise after mixing it with the big boys at the top of the table.
One or two sides aren't conforming to their usual type in terms of league position. But are they setting new standards, or is it just a matter of time until normal service is resumed?
One such club are West Brom. New boss Steve Clarke is a relative unknown in management with just assistant roles at Chelsea, West Ham and Liverpool to his name, but so far his appointment is proving a shrewd move by the Baggies hierarchy.
Clarke's side are seventh, above Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool, having won four of their opening seven games and losing just once. They're level on points with Tottenham and Everton and just one behind both Manchester clubs.
Admittedly, as the season wears on injuries, suspensions and weariness will take their toll and West Brom may slip back through a lack of strength in depth. But while the Baggies' fixture list has so far included games against QPR, Aston Villa and Reading, who make up three of the bottom five, they've also faced Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham and emerged with seven points, indicating their stunning early-season form may be more than a flash in the pan.
West Brom are currently 2.111/10 on Betfair for a top 10 finish, but remain 16.5n/a outsiders to convert that to a place in the top six.
Another side punching above their predicted weight are newly promoted West Ham. Sam Allardyce's side only joined the ranks of the Premier League through the play-offs, but have been by far the most impressive of the promoted sides so far this season.
The Hammers are currently eighth in the table, just a point off London rivals Arsenal who beat them at the weekend but unlike West Brom, but their position could be somewhat deceptive at first glance.
While Allardyce's side have three wins and two draws under their belt, aside from Arsenal, they have only played teams in a lower position than themselves. But don't expect them to fade away any time soon as before the month is out, the Hammers host Southampton and travel to Wigan, both of whom they will be confident of beating.
West Ham fans will be crossing their fingers that they can carry momentum in to November and December. Their fixture list makes much less pleasant reading with trips to Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal, as well as home fixtures against Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton.
The Hammers are outsiders for a top 10 finish at 3.65n/a but remain favourites at 1.412/5 to conclude the season as the top promoted team.
Recommended Bet
Lay West Ham for a top 10 finish at 3.711/4