Carter confident of turnaround

Summer signing Darren Carter insists West Brom can recapture their fine early season form despite suffering two successive defeats.

The Baggies went down 3-2 to Birmingham in a thrilling local derby on Saturday at The Hawthorns, days after being crushed 4-0 by champions Chelsea.

However, Carter – who arrived at Albion in July on a transfer from Birmingham – is adamant his new side can recapture the momentum that saw them claim four points from their first two fixtures.

The midfielder told the club’s official website, www.wba.co.uk: “We need to get back on track. But I don’t think the bubble has burst.

“The confidence is still here and we now have a couple of weeks to work on things.”

With the international weekend looming, the Baggies have to wait for two weeks until they resume their Premiership campaign with a home game against Wigan, who secured their first win of the season with a scrappy 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Sunderland on Saturday.

It heralds a run of fixtures against the Black Cats, Charlton and Blackburn from which West Brom will be hoping to collect points as they seek to prevent a repeat of last year when survival was only secured on the final day.

“We feel we are stronger than last season and we know we are better than what we showed on Saturday,” added Carter.“We need to put that game behind us. We can improve and push up the league.

“Because of what happened last year, it’s fantastic here.

“We will bounce back from this and be ready for the Wigan game.”

The 21-year-old came through the ranks at St Andrews where he found himself sending his boyhood heroes into the Premiership with the winning penalty against Norwich in the play-off final in 2002.

Carter, however, found the transition to the top flight difficult although a three-month loan spell at Sunderland last season benefited both player and club on his return to St Andrews.

Then came his transfer to The Hawthorns where he joins former Blues colleague Geoff Horsfield who has launched himself to the top of the Premiership scoring charts after already claiming four goals.

Carter had his first taste of Albion action against Birmingham and admits he found it “weird” to face his former team-mates but he was given an ovation by both sets of fans.

“It was strange playing against Blues – especially being in the tunnel beforehand standing next to them,” he said.

“It was weird – but I’m a West Brom player now.”

Carter faces stiff competition to claim a place in midfield with the likes of Andy Johnson, Junichi Inamoto and Richard Chaplow all vying for a place.

“I’ve had to be patient. I was frustrated not to be involved but the gaffer assured me I would play a part,” he added.

“Hopefully, I can now get a run in the team and show what I can do for West Brom.”