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WEST BROM MANAGER ROBERTO DI MATTEO KEEPS HIS PLAYERS CALM

ABOVE: West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo keeps his players calm

21st November 2009

By Scott Coleman

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WEST BROM can go top of the table today but manager Roberto Di Matteo insists keeping his players’ feet on the ground could be crucial.

The Baggies finished bottom of the Premier League last season and lost boss Tony Mowbray to Celtic.

But they were still installed among the favourites for promotion back to the top flight.

Two defeats in three home games earlier this season hit their hopes. But a 5-0 home win over Watford was followed by a 2-1 victory at Leicester to get the campaign back on track.

And Di Matteo is keen to ensure his players do not get carried away before today’s home encounter with seventh-placed Bristol City.

He said: “The expectations are that we should win every game. If we lose one then people don’t expect it. Maybe the only game we’re expected to lose is at Newcastle, but we have to be realistic. It’s a tough league and that shows with the table.

“It will be a very, very difficult game – I have a high regard for this team.”

Di Matteo has almost a fully-fit squad to choose from, with Robert Koren on a high after captaining Slovenia to World Cup qualification.

City will again be without Bradley Orr (Achilles), leaving Cole Skuse to deputise at right-back.

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