West Brom's Steve Clarke rejects Europe talk after win at Sunderland

West Brom manager Steve Clarke insisted his team are not thinking about the prospect of European football despite moving to third in the Premier League.

The Baggies secured a fourth successive top-flight win for the first time in 32 years with a 4-2 victory at Sunderland.

Clarke was appointed manager in June and has guided the team to eight wins in their opening 13 league matches.

However, Clarke said: "To talk about European football would be folly. We'll keep our feet on the ground."

West Brom have not featured in a major European competition since a first-round exit in the Uefa Cup in 1981-82.

Clarke has impressed since replacing Roy Hodgson at The Hawthorns in the summer, his first permanent role as manager, having served as assistant under Ruud Gullit at Newcastle, Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, Gianfranco Zola at West Ham and most recently Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool.

The 49-year-old Scot, who played for St Mirren and Chelsea, has presided over six wins in seven home league games this season, with Liverpool, Everton and Chelsea all beaten.

"The players deserve all the credit," added Clarke. "They've worked really hard and made a lot of people sit up and take notice. The Albion fans can enjoy this spell.

"Sunderland played like we do, they tried to counter-attack, which meant we had a lot more possession.

"But I thought we passed the ball brilliantly and we managed to pick them off. To score four goals against any team is a great performance."