West Ham United midfielder Dimitri Payet has admitted that he was not expecting the team to make the start that they have to the Premier League season.
The Hammers have won four of their six league games to occupy third place in the table, and they became the first team to beat Manchester City this term when they won 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Payet, who joined West Ham from Marseille during the summer, has said that Slaven Bilic's men deserve to be where they are in the standings.
"I might have been a little sceptical if you told me where we'd be, but we've shown that our position has not happened by chance," the Frenchman told the club's official website. "We continue to take points, that's the important thing.
"I wouldn't necessarily say we're winning away with ease, but it's true that we've got a defensive unit that's tough to budge.
"We've sprung a few surprises - we've beaten City, so people are beginning to speak a lot more about us. Naturally, victories bring confidence. Saturday was the third win away from home."
West Ham host Norwich City in their next league match on Saturday.
Steven Toplis
