There is an unmistakable groundswell of confidence about West Bromwich Albion that the Christmas backmarkers can defy tradition and complete a Premiership survival act over the final forthcoming eight games.

It's a similar feeling of confidence to the one that lasted throughout not only preseason but into the Baggies' first three fixtures.

Last August, after drawing their first three games, it all started to go wrong from the moment Albion suffered their first defeat - up at Everton.

Either side of the sacking of Gary Megson, it began a nightmare run of just seven points picked up out of a possible 48, before the Baggies began to get their season back on course.

That they have now done thanks to a run of just three defeats in 11 games under Bryan Robson.

Approaching Sunday's return with Everton at The Hawthorns, Albion are within three points of survival ( effectively four points, given Southampton's considerably better goal difference).

And a lot more people are giving them a chance of getting out of trouble than they were back on Boxing Day, when they were rock bottom following the 5-0 home defeat by Liverpool.

The 4-1 thumping of Charlton Athletic at The Valley a fortnight ago was such an encouraging performance that confidence has been turned into genuine belief.

But Albion left-back Paul Robinson is at pains to insist that they have not got so carried away with themselves that they at risk of turning confidence into ' over confidence'.

"We know we did it against ten men," said Robinson. "But it was the same story that day Liverpool beat us 5-0.

"They destroyed us with ten men, and it was nice to be able to prove that we could do the same thing to other teams. But no way has the Charlton result made us over confident.

"We know we have to keep working hard and maintain the standards we've now set as a team."

What the victories against Birmingham City and at Charlton have done is to show Robson's men what they are capable of - to hopefully inspire them into believing that they can now repeat that sort of winning spirit against fourth-placed Everton.

"It's all about confidence," said Robinson. "It's a massive thing in football.

"We had an encouraging start to the season then all of a sudden we hit a bad patch and the confidence goes.

"But we've now got it back since the gaffer came in and picked ourselves up again.

"And, if we did survive, a lot of credit would have to go to him.

"He came in at a time of trouble when not many gave him a chance, but he's really made us believe in ourselves again.

"He's a different sort of character to Gary Megson completely.

"Gary was more likely to shout at you to get what he wanted from you, and it could work for certain players, but there are other ways of getting results.

"Bryan's a lot more of a relaxed character. He doesn't shout as much, but while he lets you know what he wants , he also lets you know when you've done well."

One of Robson's main success stories has been Robinson himself. Not an automatic selection when he arrived, he has looked right on top of his game in recent weeks - especially since getting the chance to reestablish a regular left-side link-up with old England Under- 21 team- mate Jonathan Greening.

"When we came up in the summer, it had been four years since I'd been at this level with Watford," said Robinson. "And maybe there was a bit of nerves to go back in and find that the Premiership standard had got even higher in the time I'd been away.

"But having good players around me has helped. And it's one of those things that, once the team started playing better, I think I have too."