West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Clarke has made a solid start to his managerial career, with seven points from his first three games after being written off by the critics before the season began. Clarke, a former assistant at Chelsea, West Ham and Liverpool, took over from Roy Hodgson at the Hawthorns in June and stepped into his first senior management role at the West Midlands club.
"It didn't faze me when we were written off," Clarke told the Birmingham Mail.
"There is still a long way to go so it's not something to get carried away with. But I do think it's unfair to say this group of players will struggle. Last season they finished 10th on 47 points, the previous season they finished 11th on 47 points so those are good solid Premier League seasons."
"I'm an optimist so I was always confident of getting something from these games," Clarke added.
"You have to believe that if you show enough quality then you can get something.
"It's not been a lucky seven points, but a well-earned seven points."
