Reds moving on from horror of Hawthorns

Still, a 7-0 hammering on the final day of the campaign by them hurt club and manager like hell.

Davey was left after the final whistle defending a performance almost devoid of defending.

He is definite that tomorrow will be vastly different.

Davey has transformed the playing staff of the club since then with 11 new signings.

Evidence of some strength in depth came on Wednesday when a side including six fringe players held Newcastle 2-0 in the Carling Cup.

“We’ve now got a tough game against West Brom, which will be another big task for us,” Davey declared.

“Last time we were there we got beat 7-0 at the end of last season. We know it’s not going to be an easy game but we’re confident that we’ve got a group of players now that can compete at this level.

“We stayed in the Championship last year and we’d gone to West Brom already safe.

“It was a difficult game for us while they were going for promotion and we got turned over. We go there with nine different players to the team that played against them last season. Hopefully we can eradicate that result.”

Of the 14 player used at The Hawthorns in May, only Brian Howard and Istvan Ferenczi look likely to start tomorrow.

For West Brom when they last faced Barnsley, Kevin Phillips netted a hat-trick and Nathan Ellington scored twice. Robert Koren and Zoltan Gera hit the target too.

Phillips, although now 34, and Hungarian international Gera remain a big players for West Brom, but Ellington has moved on to Watford for 3.25 million.

Koren is bidding to regain full fitness following a recent eye injury. He played in the League Cup win over Peterborough but expects to sit out tomorrow’s game.

Former Sheffield Wednesday favourite Chris Brunt is available for West Brom selection against Barnsley after a suspension for being sent off in a pre-season game.

West Brom boss Tony Mowbray invested 3m in the Northern Ireland winger.

He is another one who evokes bad memories around Barnsley. He scored a late winner against Barnsley last season at Hillsborough.