WHEN West Brom lost their first two games of the new season it was tempting to think they were suffering a hangover following play-off disappointment three months earlier.

But manager Gary Megson insisted today: "That would be looking for excuses and I don't think it is true.

"We had two poor results but we played Grimsby off the park. In every game we have played I have thought we were the best and we have now put a run of six wins from seven game together."

The start to the new campaign was not helped by the fact that he lost his star striker Lee Hughes two days before the big kick-off.

But Megson has been boosted by the impressive form of Scott Dobie, signed in the summer from Carlisle United.

"He has done extremely well for us because the only thing we were not sure about was if he would score goals at this level," he said. "But he is doing okay although to be considered a goalscorer you have to do it year in year out - a bit like Andy Payton."

Megson has not been surprised by the positive start by the Clarets to the new campaign although he agrees with Burnley boss Stan Ternent that it is unlikely a team will run away with the title this season.

"Burnley has got a lot of good expereinced players and they seem to have bought well," he said. "They finished strongly last season and so it is not a surprise they are going well.

"But the table is staring to show that there are maybe ten or 14 teams that can go up. In the past Bolton, Sunderland and Fulham have become champions easily but it will be tighter this season.

"In the past the financial clout of the clubs that have come down has been a factor but I don't think that is the case with Coventry and Bradford although it might be with Man City."