How Cats passed Premier League test as relegation battle intensifies

The final Premier League fixtures before the international break were notable for many different reasons, but if you are a newly-promoted team, your attention will likely be drawn to the relegation zone.

- by Phil Smith

Perhaps inevitably, the slow starters are fighting back. After a sluggish start, Nuno has led his West Ham side to back-to-back wins and while it's a club with some major issues, his record over a period of time suggests this improvement in organisation and output will be no flash in the fan.

Just below, Nottingham Forest are showing signs of recovering from his acrimonious departure from the City Ground in the early weeks of the season.

They have a squad packed with talent and Sean Dyche looks to have steadied the ship, with four points taken from the last two games. Burnley now sit outside the bottom three on goal difference alone, Leeds United just one point above them.

It's a reminder of just how important Sunderland's strong start has been, and a reminder of why there cannot be any complacency (there won't be) behind the scenes on Wearside.

It's worth remembering that while they came into this block of four games having made an excellent start, there was some pressure heading into that Wolves game at the Stadium of Light.