So far, so good for the West Midlands four

Martin Swain assesses the start made by our region's clubs in their first season together in England's top tier for 26 years.

Not even a full-blown managerial crisis at Villa has deflected from a strong statement of intent from the region's Premier League quartet.

For the first time in 26 years, Villa, Blues, Albion and Wolves are all clustered together in the top flight, but the odds are stacked against them keeping it that way by the end of the season.

The Black Country duo have been tipped by many to take the fall; Birmingham less so but still perceived as survival strugglers. And don't think Villa, for all their advantages in finance and player strength, are beyond experiencing a difficult season now that Martin O'Neill has left them searching for a paddle in a very well known creek.

But as the Premier League draws an early breath after its opening exchanges, the West Midlands fourball have at least shot a round of par to give fans hope the doom merchants have got it wrong.

Wolves and Blues are unbeaten and showing immediate signs they have, indeed, learned much from last season's successful survival campaigns.

Albion may have lost twice but could still mount an argument for their three points to be the equal match of the five Blues and Wolves have taken, bearing in mind visits to Chelsea and Liverpool have already been ticked off the Baggies' fixture schedule.

But it is Villa who have provided the story of the campaign so far thanks to the abrupt and questionably-motivated exit of O'Neill just five days before the season got underway.

The Irishman's subsequent silence means we still only have Randy Lerner's version of events - handed down through his intermediaries - but more and more an image is forming of reign running out of steam and energy as much as money.

And that is the key feature of the next phase of the Villa story. With owner Randy Lerner refusing to even try to compete with the lunatic spending elsewhere, Villa are into a period of more cautious development, something O'Neill clearly felt was not in the brochure.

The core of players left behind is strong, as was indicated by Sunday's recovery performance following the jarring results against Newcastle and Rapid Vienna.

They are capable enough to maintain Villa's position among the leading group in the country but the scent of a Champions League breakthrough has gone, which should ease the pressure on a new manager who must find a new sense of purpose for Villa in this age of the super rich.

Their three neighbours have no need for such self analyses. For Wolves, Albion and Blues it is all about staying put, which is why results have been so encouraging.

Albion, as the newcomers once more to the top flight, have to be seen as the most vulnerable even though the club have pulled off a series of smart signings in the last 10 days to re-shape their outlook.

That punishing defeat at Chelsea on the opening day set off alarm bells but what has happened since has softened the cries of panic. Both in beating Sunderland and then losing by one goal at Anfield, Albion proved they will be a different beast under Roberto Di Matteo then they were Tony Mowbray.

The fixture list handed the club a start which could have seen them mirroring the early plight of West Ham — and in danger of being cut off. That does not look as if it is going to happen which will fortify the Baggies faithful as they now prepare to face Spurs on their return to action.

Three defeats from 12 games involving our teams so far is a heartening record in the context of their survival prospects. It is indicative of the tough marrow in the bones of Wolves and Blues that both are unbeaten.

As we speak, Blues are desperately trying to change their dimensions, to shake off their unfashionable image of sturdy but scruffy neighbours to Villa. Shifting people's perceptions of the club is proving difficult but the recent Charles N'Zogbia tale did at least appear to show the Carson Yeung ownership finally delivering on a promise to invest significantly in the team.

In the meantime, his team are repeating the durability which took them 10th last season and five places above Wolves, who have registered an equally heartening start.

Wolves' advances in the last 12 months — reaching safety so early and then buying this summer's players so quickly — have been conducted so far under the national radar that it was slightly insulting to see pundits disregard them so easily before a ball was kicked.

Their results are a calling card for what the Premier League can expect - a tough outfit growing in belief that it belongs at this level. The last two performances have left opponents Everton and Newcastle whingeing - a sure sign Wolves can get under the skin of their rivals.

Yes, a good start with the promise of more to come. Twenty-six years ago, the quartet were broken up by the relegation of Blues and Wolves, a fate some would expect in 2010-11.

Don't be so sure.