Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo was relieved the international break only interrupted the fixture schedule – and not his team’s high form.

The Baggies can sit back and see how Newcastle respond in their delayed clash at Preston tonight, having once more thrust the pressure on the Tyneside club duelling with Albion at the top of the table.

But Di Matteo is delighted that his players showed no ill effects from disappearing to all corners of the globe after such an impressive victory over Leicester two weeks earlier.

He said: “We started from where we finished before the international break. You’re always a bit concerned as to whether you can keep that momentum going when there’s no game for two weeks.

“But I’m very pleased and delighted with the performance – it really was excellent. We looked very strong and needed to be because Bristol City are a good team.

“An early goal is always in the game-plan as it settles the nerves and helps you a lot. The next goal when you’re 2-0 up is vital and we managed to score a third goal early in the second half.

“The fourth soon followed and the game was over. It was perfect, really. Looking at the other results as well as our own, it was a good day for us.”

But the head coach is warning the Baggies fans not to imagine his team can serve up an endless supply of Hawthorns treats such as the last two – five goals against Watford and now four against Bristol City.

He said: “We’ve scored a lot of goals in the last few games – but don’t get used to it! It’s not going to happen all the time.”

Albion are matching the championship-winning team of two years ago stride for stride and Di Matteo was again keen to point out that their prominent start to the season has come without some key figures in long-term injury victims James Morrison (heel) and Ishmael Miller (knee) missing.

The Hawthorns boss said: “Our bench was very strong for this game. If someone has an average game, we have very good players on the bench. The expectations are very high at this club. But don’t forget we haven’t been able to play Miller and Morrison – two big players for us – so far and we have a very young squad.

“Considering that, you wouldn’t expect us to be where we are. It seems, after 17 games, we can be very competitive with the other teams.”

City manager Gary Johnson had to repeat an experience he’s only twice gone through so far this season – after matches at Cardiff and Derby – in talking about a Championship defeat.

The Robins boss duly doffed his cap to Albion’s qualities and will now set about the task of rallying his troops.

He said: “You can’t give a team like West Brom a two-goal start and then give them another two goals just after half-time which killed us. We are very disappointed but we are not totally distraught after coming up against a very good side who are strong at home.

“We have lost our seven-game unbeaten record and we will now have to rally the troops for the two home games that are coming up.”