Di Matteo's result pledge.

Byline: Rob Tanner 

NEW Albion head coach Roberto Di Matteo has asked 'judge me on the results' as he prepares to mastermind his team's promotion bid.

The Italian knows there will be plenty of people questioning his lack of managerial experience but he has asked the critics to wait until the end of his first campaign before deciding whether those fears were justified.

The 39-year-old is supremely confident he can turn Albion into Championship title contenders and has pledged to play attacking football but admits it is results that will be all important. He said: "We are definitely going to apply our ideas and methods, and then you can judge me by the results. That is what everyone is going to do.

"I just need to win games and I will do what it takes. We will see at the end of the season where we stand."

Albion will be amongst the favourites for automatic promotion but Di Matteo says that will not bring any added pressure and believes the favourites' tag is something they should welcome.

Likewise, Di Matteo says his side should not fear their difficult start to the campaign - at home to Newcastle United - before matches at new boys Peterborough United and Nottingham Forest. They also face promotion contenders Sheffield United in the first month. "I agree that we will be one of the favourites," he added. "If the squad is the same then we should be one of the favourites. Expectations are part of the job and you have to manage them. The pressure is always there as a manager because it is ultimately about winning games."

Albion are close to completing the pounds 2 million capture of striker Simon Cox from Swindon Town. The 22-year-old has scored 35 goals in 62 appearances for the Robins and will undergo a medical next week.

CAPTION(S):

You need one of these... Robert Di Matteo wants Albion fans to judge him at the end of the season.