Di Matteo: This is a tough division.

WEST Brom can go top of the Coca-Cola Championship today and manager Roberto Di Matteo admits managing high expectations could be crucial.

The Baggies finished bottom of the Premier League last season and lost manager Tony Mowbray to Celtic, but were still quickly installed among the favourites for promotion.

Two defeats in three home games earlier this season halted their progress, but a 5-0 win over Watford at The Hawthorns was followed by a 2-1 win at Leicester to get their promotion campaign back on track.

But Di Matteo (pictured far right) is keen to ensure his players do not get carried away ahead of today's home clash with seventh-placed Bristol City.

"The expectations are that we should win every game. If we lose one then people don't expect it," the former Chelsea midfielder said. "Maybe the only game we are expected to lose is at Newcastle. But we have to be realistic. It's a tough league and that shows with the table."

Speaking about facing Gary Johnson's side, Di Matteo added: "It will be a very, very difficult game, I have a high regard for this team. The manager has done very well there."

Di Matteo has a virtually fully-fit squad to choose from, with Robert Koren due back from international duty after captaining Slovenia to World Cup qualification with victory over Russia on Wednesday. Bristol City will once again be without Bradley Orr (Achilles), with Cole Skuse continuing to deputise at right-back.

Fellow defender Jamie McAllister had to come off in the draw at Nottingham Forest a fortnight ago due to a groin injury, but the Scotsman is fit.

Midfielder Ivan Sproule is back in contention following a two-week leave of absence on compassionate grounds as the Robins look to extend a sevenmatch unbeaten run.

Elsewhere, Mark Cooper has a fully-fit squad available for his first game in charge of Peterborough at Sheffield United.

Cooper, who last weekend was preparing Blue Square Premier side Kettering for a trip to Cambridge, has inherited a side bottom of the Championship but has promised that every player has been given a clean slate.

Today's other games see Barnsley at home to Cardiff, Coventry take on Crystal Palace and Doncaster face QPR.

Ipswich face Sheffield Wednesday at Portman Road, Plymouth travel to Leicester, Reading are at home to Blackpool and Watford take on Scunthorpe at Vicarage Road.