Roberto Di Matteo on a positive year for Albion

Albion head coach Roberto Di Matteo wants his players to banish the doubts as they prepare to tackle Manchester United tomorrow.

The Baggies take on the Premier League leaders weakened by suspension and by having their wings clipped in two holiday programme defeats to Bolton and Blackburn.

The setbacks have sucked the region's leading top-flight team back towards the survival scrap at the foot of the table but Di Matteo is urging his players to focus on the positives of their first half of the season as they prepare for 2011.

"I look at it from the other side," said Di Matteo when asked about Albion's slide.

"People expected us to be at the bottom and we've never really been there. The positive side for us is that we've done well to be where we are.

"Apart from the last couple of weeks - which could have made 2010 a magnificent year - I think it's been a good 12 months. We got promotion with record points, scored lots of goals, had a decent start in the Premier League, the best this club has seen and some incredible results.

"I'm a positive guy and that's why we are where we are. We are a small fish in a big pond in the Premier League. I'm disappointed about the last two weeks but I can't be too disappointed because my team have given me everything.

"They've given 100 per cent, we have a small squad but we will try to retain our top flight status."

Albion have to shuffle their line-up tomorrow to cater for the suspensions of Gonzalo Jara and Gabriel Tamas at right-back. They have also been left sweating over the fitness of Paul Scharner, who missed training yesterday because of illness.

There were no clues from Di Matteo yesterday about who would fill the vacancies but Steven Reid is expected to step in at right-back and Pablo Ibanez in the centre.

He also has to decide how to accommodate the return of Chris Brunt from suspension with Somen Tchoyi tipped to drop to the bench.

Di Matteo is adamant his men will tackle the leaders with confidence. "We have a duty to go out confident of winning," he said.