New head coach, Roberto Di Matteo, claims he’s learned a few lessons about his new players after Albion’s 2-2 draw at neighbours Walsall yesterday.
The Baggies found themselves two goals down at the break after conceding late first-half goals with Luke Moore and Craig Beattie keeping their impressive pre-season scoring records going in reply.
Di Matteo fielded a strong starting XI with Graham Dorrans and Simon Cox returning from injury and five other players who finished the last campaign at Blackburn Rovers. However it was defensive errors which again came back to haunt the Baggies with Di Matteo promising further training as he builds up towards the big kick-off against Newcastle.
“I'm sure we'll always create chances," said the former MK Dons manager.
"I'm not concerned about that.
"I'm probably a bit more focussed on the defensive side. I think we have to put a lot of work into that.
"It was an interesting game.
"It's the kind we're going to be facing in the Championship in terms of style of football and physical presence of the opposition, so it was a good test.
"We still have a lot of work ahead of us.
"We realise that and we're going to work very hard to try to smooth things out before the start of the season.
"It's still pre-season so I'm not too concerned about results.
"It's more about what the players do.
"We're also still working them very hard between games so I'm not expecting my boys to be sharp.
"It was good to learn certain things today, though.
"You can learn a lot from games like this.
"I learned a few things about a few players in certain positions so we still have a lot to do.
"You can see from today the demands and physicality we will encounter in the Championship.
"We have to learn to deal with that."