Bring on derbies - Roberto Di Matteo

Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo today predicted a West Midlands football feel-good factor as the region prepared to kick off its bumper season of derbies.

The Baggies take on Birmingham at The Hawthorns in the first of 12 top-flight derbies for the area this term.

And the Italian, who will lock horns with a friend in Birmingham manager Alex McLeish, believes the region will feel the benefits of its biggest ever Premier League presence, which also includes Wolves and Villa.

"I think the region will be feeling the impact of having four teams," said Di Matteo.

"The amount of away supporters, the income and economic activity that increases are all good. It will have an impact on the area. I think derbies add spice to the season. Derbies have no rules. There are no favourites as far as my experience goes.

"If one team is second and you're bottom then it means nothing.

"Derbies are special. Anything can happen. When I was at Chelsea our big derby was against Arsenal.

"Tottenham wasn't always a derby because we always won!

"But when you're involved in it you hear supporters make comments, the papers focus on it, there's history. It's different to normal games."

And Di Matteo is looking forward to testing himself against McLeish after getting to know the Blues boss during a trip to this year's Champions League final.

"Alex is a good guy," said the Hawthorns head coach. "We went to see the final in Madrid with a corporate package so we got to know each other then.

"He's a nice guy. We talked a little bit about football and he did a great job last year in the Premier League.

"They seemed to struggle to get out of the Championship but had a fantastic season in the Premier League.

"They did very well. We don't really share the same footballing philosophies but we got on well.

"They have signed some very good players, they've spent a few quid and did well last year.

"I went to watch them on Sunday against Liverpool but, to be honest, I knew them already so I didn't learn that much new."