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The current Premier League campaign may still be in its infancy but, with the exception of Chelsea steaming ahead with ominous efficiency, there is something refreshing about the current campaign.

This Sunday morning the top four places were occupied by the Blues, followed by Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and, most eye-catchingly of all, West Bromwich Albion. Yes, perennial boomerang side West Bromwich Albion are in Champions League contention (and 50.0 for a top-four finish).

Of course, the Baggies are generally expected to return to the proper way of things, start compliantly getting spanked by those bigger, scarier Premier League prefects and ultimately return to whence they came with their tail between their legs. The question is, will they bend over in time-honoured tradition? Or can they challenge the established order as Ipswich did, when narrowly missing out on a top four place under George Burley in 2000/01?

The Baggies' unexpected success so far appears to have surprised even their coach Roberto Di Matteo, whose season got off to the worst possible start: a 6-0 defeat at Chelsea. Since that chastening opening day, however, WBA have won six and lost just once in all competitions.

It's not even as though they've had an easy run of fixtures, either. Di Matteo's men have held Manchester United and Tottenham to draws and beaten Manchester City and Arsenal. And having watched that 3-2 win from the stands at the Emirates, there is no doubt in this observer's mind that they were very worthy winners.

The most pleasing aspect to this fairytale sub-plot to the season, is that in the past newly promoted sides have tended to succeed in staying up by adopting the Sam Allardyce model (Bolton, Stoke, Birmingham, Wolves all laid down their top-flight roots with a no nonsense, direct and frankly ugly approach to the game). Di Matteo, though, has opted to try where Tony Mowbray failed before him: playing an open, expansive game perceived in the past as the footballing equivalent of climbing out of the trenches and walking very slowly towards no man's land.

And yet, hearteningly, Di Matteo is obtaining results. In fact so well has his side been playing that last season's star midfielder Graham Dorrans, for whom three bids from West Ham were turned down in the summer, cannot even get in the starting lineup.

"We keep believing in the way we want to win games," said Di Matteo after yesterday's 2-1 defeat of Fulham.

"There is no secret to our success. The players work very hard and we try to play football and win games. That's the philosophy that we have. We have a belief and that's the way we want to play."

Only time will tell whether it lasts. But it is telling that the two other sides that were plying their trade in the Championship last season have adopted a similar approach with respectable results. Blackpool (14th) are arguably even more gung-ho than West Brom and Newcastle (ninth) have also adhered to the policy of attack being the greatest form of defence. When you think about it, if you're not going to stop the likes Arsenal and Chelsea scoring against you, why not have a go yourself?

It could just be that these pre-season relegation shoo-ins have yet to get found out; that they have sneaked up on the rails because better sides have taken the result for granted and not done their homework on these so-called lesser lights. But maybe, just maybe West Brom, Blackpool and Newcastle are on to something.

With Liverpool and Everton floundering at the wrong end of the table and the top dogs side-tracked by European football or off-field distractions such as Rooneygate, the Baggies are a tempting 17.0 to finish in the top six and a great bet at 4.4 to win the Top Midlands Club in the Head to Head League market.

By Richard Aikman

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