Smaller EPL clubs do themselves proud

Apart from the dominance of Manchester City, the spirited challenge of Arsenal and Newcastle’s revival, the Premier League season was notable for the impressive showing by a number of “smaller” clubs.

They proved that you don’t need bucketfuls of money if the players show heart and teamwork.

For a start, none of the three clubs which had been promoted the previous season succumbed to relegation, something that has only happened twice before in the Premier League.

The three teams involved — Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Fulham — will be among the first to acknowledge their survival was as much to do with team spirit rather than skill.

Bournemouth had been relegation favourites nearly all season but hauled themselves out of trouble just at the right time and could even afford to lose their last four matches.

However, manager Gary O’Neil knows that worrying…