Northern Ireland international Chris Brunt claims he has added confidence the Baggies can avoid relegation this term. The winger was part of the team relegated in 2009 under Tony Mowbray. However Brunt believes the combination of being “ruthless in defence” and players with “that little bit more experience” can only help the Premier League newcomers.
Albion have added the permanent signings of Steven Reid, Gabriel Tamas and Pablo Ibanez to the squad which gain an immediate return to the top-flight last season. And although Roberto Di Matteo is still hoping to add new faces, the former Sheffield Wednesday man says the experience of last season will hold Albion in good stead.
“We have to look to go one better this time and stay in the Premier League,” the midfielder admitted.
"Overall we haven't lost a lot of players over the last couple of seasons.
"We've had a good season together and that can only be good for us as a team.
"We're going to need every single body to get across that line because it's going to be a really tough season.
"Last time in the Premier League it was naivety all over the park that cost us.
"We got a lot of plaudits for being easy on the eye and playing good football.
"But at the end of the day, we didn't score enough goals and we didn't keep the ball out of our net.
"As a team we're a bit more solid than last time and hopefully that's a bonus.
“Last time in the Premier League we maybe over-complicated things, whereas last season we just defended and ground out a few results.
"I think we've got that capability now and that's got to be a positive."