Middlesbrough midfielder Adam Forshaw believes Boro have proved they can cut it in the Premier League.
Aitor Karanka's side go into the international break unbeaten after a dull 0-0 draw at West Brom on Sunday.
They have beaten north east rivals Sunderland and also drew with Stoke on the opening day to make it a solid return to the top flight for the first time since 2009.
Forshaw feels they could have had more than five points from their first three games but believes they are on the right track.
"As a barometer we are more than capable of playing in this league," he told the club's official site.
"With the type of players we have we're always disappointed (not to win). With the momentum we built last year and the winning feeling we had we think maybe we can nick games but we can't complain.
"We can take positives, at times we played well and matched them. We're going into the international break unbeaten so it's been positive."
Neither Boro or the Baggies created serious chances and the hosts were jeered off by their own fans as frustrations over a lack of transfer activity grew.
After the game Albion struck deals to break their transfer record twice by agreeing a £13million deal for Tottenham's Nacer Chadli and having a £15million offer for Malaga midfielder Ignacio Camacho accepted.
The pair are expected to complete their moves in the next 48 hours ahead of Wednesday's deadline.
Boss Tony Pulis has been blooding his youngsters as the Baggies struggle for numbers and Sam Field made an impressive full Premier League debut in midfield, with the 18-year-old earning praise from goalkeeper Ben Foster.
"Sam was brilliant. He is an absolutely fantastic young lad," he told the club's official site. "He has an experienced head on such young shoulders and to be starting a game in the Premier League at 18 is a great achievement for him.
"He gets hold of the ball and he is very elegant and classy in the way that he plays the game."
Source: PA
