West Brom prepare for another crack at the top-flight

Jul 30 2010

There is certainly more than a hint of deja vu as West Brom prepare to kick off their 2010-11 campaign back in the Barclays Premier League.

The Birmingham Road End at The Hawthorns has 'boing-ed' between the top flight and England's second tier more times than Frank Skinner and co would care to remember over the past eight years.

Four promotions, three relegations and one 'Great Escape' means Albion season ticket holders have certainly been given value for money over recent times.

But one man is determined to make the club's dalliances with the nation's elite a more permanent relationship.

Roberto Di Matteo is a man on a mission having guided the Baggies to promotion from the Championship in what was only his second season in management - having previously taken MK Dons to the League One play-offs in 2008-09.

Since Tony Mowbray left for Celtic last summer, Di Matteo has set to work in his cool and calm manner, a man who treats setbacks and success with the same composure, although there was nothing casual about Albion's promotion last season as they racked up a club record 91 points to claim second spot behind runaway leaders Newcastle.

Di Matteo set about maintaining the passing game that won over many neutrals during the club's previous relegation from the Premier League, but within a tighter and more rigid system.

Graham Dorrans emerged as the heartbeat of the promotion bid, Jonas Olsson and Scott Carson proved solid at the back while the likes of Chris Brunt, Jerome Thomas and Roman Bednar provided genuine attacking threat in the final third.

The ability of the club's hierarchy to presumably hold onto Dorrans - who has penned a new four-year deal - in the face of three unsuccessful bids from West Ham and a host of admiring glances elsewhere cannot in any way be underestimated.

So have Albion's current crop, which remains largely intact from 2008-09, learned from their last foray into the Premier League?