West Brom boss Steve Clarke looking forward to facing Manchester City

West Brom have enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign under rookie boss Clarke and are just one point behind City in the Premier League table.

The Baggies have already beaten Liverpool and Everton at The Hawthorns this term, but Clarke is expecting an even stiffer test against City.

"It's a great game for us," said Clarke. "I think our home form has been excellent - in fact our form in general has been excellent - and we look forward to another challenge, probably the biggest challenge so far because Manchester City are the champions and we have to test ourselves against them, which is a great challenge for the players.

"I think it's the biggest test we've faced at home so far this season. We've not had easy home games. If you look at the first couple Liverpool and Everton were difficult games, then QPR came here at a moment when they could have been dangerous - and we managed to win that one as well as beating Reading, which wasn't easy.

"But the champions are the champions. These are the games you have to relish and look forward to, and we do."

Clarke added: "You don't want to play with fear because if you do, you inhibit yourself. We want to try to play with a positive attitude. We know we have to defend well because when you play any of the top teams, you have to. We know that.

"But the most important thing for us is that when we do get the ball, we have to make good use of it and try to hurt the opposition. That's been the way we've approached all of our games this season and this one will be the same."