West Brom boss Steve Clarke cool on Champions League hopes

Manager Steve Clarke refused to think of bringing elite European football to West Brom after his team beat Chelsea 2-1 to climb to fourth in the table.

"Can we think of the Champions League? I don't look that far ahead, I look from game to game," said former Chelsea player and assistant manager Clarke.

"It is a great time to be at the club and if the supporters want to dream a bit, they can.

"But within the camp, we will keep our feet on the ground."

West Brom took the lead through Shane Long and, despite Eden Hazard equalising, a Peter Odemwingie goal secured the Baggies' seventh Premier League win of the season.

"I thought we played well, especially in the first half," said Clarke, who is in his first managerial role having previously been a number two at Newcastle, Chelsea, West Ham and Liverpool.

"We controlled the game and I was a little bit surprised when they scored.

"In the second half we got back in front [by] playing good football and then, towards the end, we rode our luck as Chelsea created a few chances. We defended honestly and bravely. Boaz Myhill made some fantastic saves and we just about got there."

He added: "We are a team and a good group. Anybody you put in can go in and do a good job for the team.

"Peter scored two against Southampton and then found himself on the sidelines against Wigan. But he came back against Chelsea and gave me a great answer, his second-half performance was outstanding.

"We've shown this year that we can challenge all the teams."

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo was unhappy at the standard of his side's defending and said he might change the attacking style they are trying to play this season.

The Blues have secured only two points from four games and face a crucial Champions League group match at Juventus on Tuesday.

"This season we are playing a little bit different but we might have to go back [to a previous formation] to be able to win games, and make sure first and foremost we don't concede," said the Italian.

"Maybe it is the time where we might have to change a little bit in terms of our selection and the way we play.

"For some reasons, November for our club is a bad month and it seems the same again this year.

"We are disappointed and maybe it is time to look at things, maybe change it a bit and get a win.

"We will look at the set-up of the team and maybe sacrifice a bit the attacking options to go a little bit more defensive."