EPL: West Brom move to 3rd, record best start since 1953

West Bromwich Albion's 4-2 win at Sunderland on Saturday has given them their best start to a season since 1953-54 but manager Steve Clarke refused to get too excited after another accomplished victory.

West Brom, ranked as outsiders at the start of the season, moved into third place in the Premier League -- at least until Chelsea meet champions Manchester City on Sunday -- after winning a fourth successive league match for the first time since 1980.

Clarke told the BBC his side had dominated the game, adding: "I thought we passed the ball brilliantly and managed to pick them off. To score four goals against any team is a great performance.

"The players deserve all the credit, they've worked really hard; people have had to sit up and take notice and the Albion fans can enjoy this spell."

Although the Baggies are sitting in an automatic Champions League berth, Clarke was keeping their achievements in perspective.

"To talk about European football at this stage would be folly, there are a lot of games to go so we'll keep our feet on the ground," he said.

The last time West Brom made such a good start to a league campaign, in 1953-54, they finished as runners-up in the old First Division to their arch-rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers and won the FA Cup, beating Preston North End in the final.

Honours and European places may still be some way off but West Brom's form this season has been excellent, with Clarke building on the foundations put in place last season by Roy Hodgson, who left the club to manage England.

West Brom largely dominated the match and maintained their good record against Sunderland, not losing against them for six league games.

The Baggies scored twice before halftime through Zoltan Gera and Shane Long, and added two more after it, with Romelu Lukaku scoring from a penalty and Marc-Antoine Fortune scoring with the last kick of the game.

Sunderland's goals came from Craig Gardner and Stephane Sessegnon. While West Brom climbed to third, Sunderland stayed close to the relegation zone, with 12 points from 12 matches.

Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters