West Bromwich Albion’s unbeaten run in the Championship stretched to nine games after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Preston North End. The Baggies ended the day third in the table with 16 points from eight games and are one of two sides yet to lose a match this season.

New manager Valerien Ismael has enjoyed a bright start to life at the Hawthorns since his summer arrival and Carlton Palmer was full of praise for the 55-year-old. He told This Is Futbol: “I don’t see West Brom not competing at the top end of the table, I’m very impressed with Ismael.

“He knew he was coming in there; he knew he wouldn’t have lots of funds, but he had a decent base to go off because obviously they came down from the Premier League and they’ve kept some really good players.

“But he’s proved at Barnsley he can work on shoestring and still get into the play-offs, so I expect West Brom to run it very, very close of getting automatic promotion.”

Ismael brought in Alex Mowatt from Barnsley on a free transfer, Kean Bryan on a free transfer, Adam Reach from Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer, Matt Clarke from Brighton & Hove Albion on a season-long loan, Jorgan Hugill from Norwich City on a season-long loan and Jayson Mulumby from Brighton on a season-long loan this summer.

Matheus Pereira left to join Al-Hilal, Rekeem Harper left to join Ipswich Town, Ahmed Hegazy left to join Al-Ittihad, Kieran Gibbs left to join Inter Miami, Charlie Austin left to join Queens Park Rangers, Lee Peltier left to join Middlesbrough, Kamil Grosicki was released, Andy Lonergan was released, Branislav Ivanovic was released, Hal Robson-Kanu was released, Kyle Edwards left to join Ipswich Town and Sam Field left to join QPR.

Ismael has Albion boasting the second-best defensive record while being unbeaten in the league, so things are going to plan in regard to their promotion push.

In other news, Kevin Phillips gives his views on Jordan Hugill