Spirit Of The Promoted Trio

While many would have predicted a very comfortable win for the hosts, what followed was an incredibly spirited display that really sums up the attitude of Roberto Di Mateo’s side since their return to the Premier League.

Their never say die attitude and insistence on playing football in the right way may have seen them take a heavy beating by Chelsea on the opening day but ever since then the Baggies have been excellent.

In fact the same can pretty much be said for Blackpool and Newcastle United. All three of the promoted sides have played without fear, a method that while obviously is not without its risks, has managed to guide all three clubs to top half positions at the quarter point of the Premier League campaign.

Newcastle aside you could have probably forgiven the promoted sides for been intimidated by the task of competing in the Premier League. So often promoted sides arrive in the top flight only to find themselves overawed, and as a result play negative football, which ultimately leads to problems.

This categorically hasn’t happened this season and the rest of the Premier League must be concerned by the impressive start that the promoted clubs have made. In most seasons you can normally say that at least one of the relegation places will be taken up by one of the promoted sides but if all three stay up, then it begs the question, who does go down?

There will be plenty of sides in the Premier League nervously looking over their shoulder this year, and it is all but certain that we will see an established Premier League side relegated come May. You really couldn’t predict who at this stage, but there is sure to be plenty of drama ahead as the scrap for survival develops and as a neutral it will be fascinating to watch.

But one thing that is for sure is that Blackpool, West Brom and Newcastle have all shown clubs in the Championship the exact way of adapting to life in the Premier League. The key to success is bravery.