Albion will return to Chelsea with midfielder James Morrison adamant last season’s Stamford Bridge hammering spurred them on.

The Baggies will be back at Stamford Bridge tomorrow for the first time since they were thrashed 6-0 on the opening day of last season.

But Morrison, who played the full 90 minutes, believes the pain of that defeat helped inspire a flying start to their most successful Premier League campaign ever.

He said: “I try to forget about that game but it does get brought back up. Obviously, it wasn’t very nice and we didn’t really perform well. But it was a bit of an eye-opener at the start of the season.

“I actually think it really helped us, although we know we can’t afford a result like that again. It does spur us on.

“After a couple of days, when you look back on the result and try to forget it, you use it and think ‘if we don’t perform in this league we’re going to get punished.’

“After that game we changed our formation a little bit and we started picking up results. Results like that do change things.

“It wasn’t the worst defeat I’ve had. I’ve had a few sixes and sevens. I can remember playing against Arsenal at Highbury and we conceded seven.

“In a way if you lose to the big teams you can explain it. It’s when you lose heavily to the lower teams that it has a really big effect on you.”

Albion’s boss on the day of their Stamford Bridge thrashing will be present again tomorrow.

But Roberto Di Matteo will take his place in the home dugout, as he comes face to face with his former club for the first time as assistant manager of the club he represented as a player.

And Morrison, who was a regular Baggies starter under Di Matteo, is pleased to see the former Hawthorns head coach back in football.

The Scotland international said: “Chelsea is what he would call his club. It’s where he played and the fans love him there.

“As a No 2 you’re part of a team and he will learn stuff from being at Chelsea and I’m sure he could get another job as a No 1 if he wanted one in future.

“I liked Robbie. I thought he knew what he wanted and got what he wanted and he did well at this club.

“We only really had that dodgy period and Christmas time and the chairman felt he had to change it.

“But I do still think if Robbie had been the manager we would have done the same as we did last season and be in the position we’re in now.

“It will be good to see him because I don’t think he had any problems with the players.

“But we will want to get one over on him, definitely, because Chelsea would be a good scalp.

“And I’m sure he will want to get one over on us, because he probably still feels he got the sack unfairly.”

Di Matteo’s new boss, Andre Villas-Boas, will be out to impress tomorrow as he takes charge of Chelsea for the first time at home.

And, after being frustrated in a goalless draw at Stoke last week, Morrison believes the young Portuguese boss will be doubly anxious for a victory.

He said: “We have to remember the fact that they didn’t get a positive result at Stoke, which is a game they would have expected to win.

“Going into the manager’s first home game in charge they are going to want to put a performance on and give their fans something to talk about – something positive for the new season.

“But have to think that we can go there and upset and start our season off.

“I think Chelsea will be right up there. I would tip them to be first or second.”

To read our stories in full, log in to the premium 24 website.