Perspective is key for West Bromwich Albion. So says Roberto Di Matteo who this week is charged with the task of trying to pick his players up from a 6-0 mauling at Chelsea ahead of Saturday’s Hawthorns opener with Sunderland.

But, while Blackpool celebrated a 4-0 win at Wigan, Di Matteo feels some realism is needed about Albion’s drubbing.

The Tangerines result gives hope to all promoted clubs, although the Albion boss rightly pointed out that his side face a start to the season which is unkind to put it mildly.

Albion travel to Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal in the coming weeks, with a home game against Spurs also shoe-horned in.

The message is – don’t get too despondent during the coming weeks.

“Do Blackpool give hope – yes, we know there are a number of teams that we can compete with, we know that,” said the Italian.

“It was just hard for us, to start against Chelsea. It was a tough day at the office.We need to put everything into perspective.

“The first eight games we are going to be playing the top five clubs, four of them away, so after eight games we need to sit down and say: ‘Okay guys, come on – we know what the situation is, come on let’s go, keep going til the end, we are never going to give up,’.

“And we won’t be the only ones. There’s going to be this (difficult times) for everyone.

“If we had lost 3-0, or 4-0, it is still zero points. It won’t change that. Zero points.”

Di Matteo wants to see progress against Sunderland. “I want them to play well and try hard and give us a chance to be able to win a game,” he said. “If the opposition is better you have to hold your hands up, but let’s do our best, try hard and fight for each other.

“After it is over you analyse and say ‘they played better’ or ‘they scored a great goal’ but I am sure we will show a reaction.”