Winger Chris Brunt believes Albion have shed the ‘naivety’ that undermined their last campaign in the Premier League.

The Northern Ireland international insists the Baggies will be more ruthless when they return to the top flight next month under bossRoberto Di Matteo.

Tony Mowbray’s side ended the 2008-09 season bottom of the table, with criticism growing over their open style of play.

But Brunt reckons they will adopt a different approach for the new campaign.

He said: “It was naivety all over the park that cost us last time. We got a lot of plaudits for being easy on the eye and playing good football.

“But at the end of the day, we didn’t score enough goals and we didn’t keep the ball out of our net.

“As a team we’re a bit more solid than last time and hopefully that’s a bonus. We’re a little bit more ruthless when we’re defending.

“Last time in the Premier League we maybe over-complicated things, whereas last season we just defended and ground out a few results.

“I think we’ve got that capability now and that’s got to be a positive.”

Brunt believes the experience of the last Premier League season will help the Baggies improve for the new campaign.

The wide man also reckons the presence of Jerome Thomas and Steven Reid, who both have Premier League pedigree, will be a boost.

He said: “We’ve got a few players in the squad with that little bit more experience now.

“Ultimately, everyone enjoyed the experience of last time but it was disappointing in the end. We have to look to go one better this time and stay in the Premier League.

“Overall we haven’t lost a lot of players over the last couple of seasons. We’ve had a good season together and that can only be good for us as a team.

“We’re going to need every single body to get across that line because it’s going to be a really tough season.”

Brunt also believes Albion must wise up at set-pieces.

Mowbray’s men were undone regularly from corners and free-kicks and Brunt is conscious they cannot afford similar mistakes this season.

He said: “You’ve seen at every level, even in the World Cup, a set-piece can win a game,.

“It will make a big difference if we can be good on our own set-pieces and stronger defensively we’ll always have a chance.

“There are a lot of teams in the Premier League whotry and score from set-pieces and it’s something we have to look at.”