"Bring on the boo boys": Sheffield Wednesday star Barry Bannan welcomes rough reception at West Brom

The little Scot was reared at West Brom’s midlands rivals Aston Villa but said that previous visits to the Hawthorns have been relatively sedate when it comes to the treatment he’s been given.

He believes the boo boys bring out the best in him and said Wednesday would have to win those mental battles if they are to come away from the home of the table-topping Baggies.

Asked what sort of reception he expects on Saturday, Bannan said: “Not a good one.

“I'll probably get little bits and bobs but it's probably the game after that [against Birmingham on Wednesday] where I'll get more!

“I've been there a few times and it's not been too bad, to be honest. If they read this I'll probably get it! But it's part and parcel of football, I enjoy it to be honest.

“If you're getting booed and stuff you're obviously doing something right so hopefully I do get booed. It won't bother me. It's like any other game, the atmosphere is always there and if anything it makes you play better.”

West Brom have lost only one league game this season under the tutelage of new boss Slaven Bilic and are two points clear at the top of a congested Championship table.

Bannan said of all the teams he has seen this season, it is them who he fancies to take the title.

“I think these are probably the team at the minute that probably look the likeliest,” he said.

“I watched them against Stoke and I thought they were the best team that I've watched this season, so it's a big task for us, but we're confident of going there and getting three points.

“We're looking forward to it because you want to play the best teams and at the minute their at the top, they're the ones that everybody is chasing. The boys can't wait to get out there and show what we're good at.”

Vice-captain Bannan, now into his fifth season at the club, says the Owls will be concentrating on their own strengths.

“I've said many times that if we perform, we'll probably beat most of the teams in this league.

“We've got to concentrate on what we're good at. We know what their strengths are, we know that they've got a good manager and they've had a great start, but these are the games that you want to play, you want to be able to go out and show that you're good enough to beat them.