Kyle Bartley urges West Brom fans to have faith in new style

The summer signing, who joined from Swansea for an initial £4million, is the left-sided centre-back of a back three committed to playing the ball out from defence under Darren Moore.

Albion played themselves into trouble at times in the first half of Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Stoke, but they improved after half-time.

It’s a new approach for the Baggies, but one Bartley says the whole squad believes in, because the potential rewards are great.

“It’s been almost a decade at this club when it’s been a little bit back to front,” said Bartley. “The manager has come in with the new coaches and they want to try and implement the new style of playing that they think will really work in this league.

“We think we’ve got the players to deal with it. There are always going to be some hairy moments and some chances being taken at the back.

“But we made chances at the other end from playing out from the back and we ask the fans to stick with us.

“I know it is a bit nervy at times but we believe in it and hope the fans believe in it as well.”

Albion’s new free-flowing football was epitomised by Dwight Gayle’s first goal on Saturday, when goalkeeper Sam Johnstone rolled it out to Chris Brunt, who played it to Kieran Gibbs.

Gibbs and Gayle then combined twice to move Albion up the pitch expertly before the striker rounded off the move with an incredible touch on the pirouette and a composed finish.

Gayle scored 23 goals in the Championship two seasons ago for Newcastle United, when Bartley was on loan at Leeds United.

“He scored two against me!” recalled the defender. “The next time I played against him, I kicked him and he went off after 10 minutes!

“He’s had a little word with me about that! He said his back is still hurting from it!

“He is brilliant, he is going to get lots of goals this year. We’ve just got to make sure he stays fit and keeps putting them in the back of the net for us.

“We are blessed to have three or four great strikers at the club and real healthy competition up there.

“Dwight is a proven goalscorer and he is always going to get you goals and his work-rate off the ball is also immense.

“I thought he was fantastic along with Jay (Rodriguez) and Harvey (Barnes) pressing from the front and it makes our job a lot easier at the back.

“That is the sort of goal-power we need. Dwight is always going to get us goals and I’m sure he has set his own personal targets.

"His movement is fantastic and you know at all times he wants to score goals and you know any little lapse and he is going to be in.

“I think he is very sharp and fit and has come in looking very dangerous.”

As well as scoring three goals from his first four starts, Gayle has also won three penalties, all of which have been converted by Jay Rodriguez.

“He has got a great attitude,” said Bartley. “He works his socks off. Jay has been fantastic as well and we are going to be a threat all season.”