Southampton and West Ham - Will their bubble burst?

How good has Graziano Pelle been for the Saints?

Southampton and West Ham United have been the two pleasant surprises of the season so far but can they keep it up?

Southampton and West Ham have been the surprise packages of the Premier League campaign, but can they maintain their lofty status?

The Saints currently lie in second place, just four points adrift of leaders Chelsea, while the Hammers are fifth after a run of three wins and a draw in their last four games.

Both sides were amongst those fancied to be battling relegation this term, with the South Coast side needing to start again after a summer of major departures, while the Irons had a manager under severe pressure in Sam Allardyce.

However, less than three months into the season, both clubs could hardly be in a more positive position.

Bet 10 Get 30 with Betfair Plus Money Back if you Lose

First to Southampton, where former Dutch legend Ronald Koeman seemed to have walked into a club in crisis after Mauricio Pochettino left to take charge at Spurs and was quickly followed out of the door by a number of star performers.

Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren all headed to Liverpool, while left-back Luke Shaw was snapped up by Manchester United and Calum Chambers was tempted away by Arsenal.

Koeman, also allowed record signing Gaston Ramirez to leave for a season-long loan at Hull City, but crucially midfield inspiration Morgan Schneiderlin was persuaded to stay put and around him has been formed a side as effective as last season's.

Koeman raided former club Feyenoord for Italian striker Graziano Pelle, who arrived unheralded, but who has already won a call-up to the Azzurri national team on the back of six goals in ten Premier League games.

Another arrival from the Netherlands, Dusan Tadic, has given the Saints the thrust down the left flank which most observers thought would be lost when Lallana exited.

At the back loanee Ryan Bertrand has filled the gap left by Shaw with some ease, while Toby Alderweireld has fitted in alongside Jose Fonte to ensure that Lovren has hardly been missed in central defence, while England man Fraser Forster was a superb addition in goal.

But can those players continue to impress, that is the big question.

Well Koeman certainly has the experience needed to keep the ship sailing in smooth waters and he will need all of it as the next two to three months see massive challenges on the horizon.

At the end of November, the Saints take on Manchester City, while December opens with clashes with Arsenal and Manchester United and Christmas could be ruined by the prospect of games against Chelsea, the Gunners and United in less than a fortnight.

The answer to can Southampton stay among the Premier League elite will surely have an answer by mid-January and while they may fail to do so, a couple of months ago many Saints fans would have snapped your hand off if offered mid-table security, which looks like the most likely outcome.

A similar outcome would also have been welcomed by most fans at Upton Park, some of whom have been calling for the head of boss Allardyce for some months.

However, a shift in approach at the club over the summer is currently paying off in spades, with attractive football, as well as positive results, the order of the day.

Allardyce has long been seen as a negative and cautious manager, but, possibly nudged by the Hammers board, this season he has adopted a more progressive style of play.

The addition of former England man Teddy Sheringham to coach the forwards appears to have been a masterstroke, while the signings of Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho has given the Irons a cutting edge to enable them to take their chances.

Valencia always looked to be a good addition after he impressed at the World Cup finals for Ecuador, scoring three goals in three games and he has added a further three Premier League goals for the Hammers since moving to England.

Sakho, meanwhile, has been the equal of Pelle at Southampton, becoming only the second player in the Premier League era to score on each of his first six starts in the competition.

That pair have given the Hammers the dynamic attack they have lacked in recent times, leaving most observers to almost forget that Andy Carroll is still out injured.

However, Allardyce's fresh tactical approach has also swept through the midfield, where Stewart Downing is revelling in a central role which has seen him return to the sort of form which one made him an England international.

That attacking, central role for Downing meant that a defensive midfield player was needed to shield the back four and again Allardyce and the Hammers board played a blinder in recruiting former Arsenal man Alex Song on a season-long loan from Barcelona.

The Cameroon international is only too happy to do the dirty work and alongside the likes of Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate he helps give the Londoners a strength which could help them remain in the upper reaches of the table.

However, while things are currently going well at the back, the Hammers have leaked 14 goals in ten games and in Spanish keeper Adrian they have a player capable of mixing brilliance with the odd rush of blood.

If Allardyce's men are to maintain their lofty position, as signing or two in January may be needed to bolster their backline, otherwise a slide into mid-table surely awaits.

Again the post-Christmas programme will almost certainly provide the answers, with Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United all faced in just over a month.

And, much like the Saints, it seems likely that a slide of some sort will happen, although fans of the Irons will be feeling much the same as those of Southampton - mid-table security doesn't seem at all bad.