Slaven Bilic has led West Bromwich Albion to the top of the Championship table after Matheus Pereira rescued a draw against Barnsley at the Hawthorns.
Tony Pulis admits he would be ‘very surprised’ if West Bromwich Albion are not among the favourites to win the Championship title this season, speaking to Sky Sports (23 October, 10pm).
The Baggies are top of the second-tier table after 13 games, winning seven of those, and showed great spirit to come from two down to secure a late draw against struggling Barnsley on Wednesday with Brazilian playmaker Matheus Pereira netting a late leveller.
West Brom lost to bitter rivals Aston Villa in the play-off semi-finals last season but they look a much improved side under Slaven Bilic with a number of new signings, including Pereira, Semi Ajayi and Grady Diangana, making a big impact in the early weeks of 2019/20.
No team in the league has scored more than their 24 goals too with Bilic’s free-flowing team a far cry from the ‘park-the-bus’ tactics often employed by Pulis during the final few years of his Hawthorns reign.
And, speaking after West Brom showed character and quality in equal measure to deny Barnsley a vital win, Pulis has admitted that he cannot see his former club falling away after an excellent run of form.
“You’ve got a very experienced manager who has worked at the highest level, he knows the game and knows what it takes and what is needed. They’ve backed him, brought in some very good players with pace and power,” said the 61-year-old.
“I’ll be very, very surprised if they’re not there or thereabouts at the end of the season. They look stronger throughout the team than what they were last year.”
West Brom are yet to see the best of Kenneth Zohore or Charlie Austin too and, once the misfiring strikers find form, Bilic’s team could be almost unstoppable in the months to come – especially if last season’s 23-goal loan star Dwight Gayle returns from Newcastle in January (The Sun).
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