THE Premier League has proved a step too far for countless newly promoted sides over the years as their top-flight dream was quickly turned into a nightmare.

Swindon Town, Sunderland and Derby County are just three Premiership new-boys who have been dramatically put in their place by their more illustrious rivals – leaving many to question can the Championship gulf really be bridged?

There are not many asking that in the opening stages of this campaign though as Hull City, Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion continue to hold their own, or better, in their moment in the limelight.

Rovers travel to the Hawthorns this afternoon just two points above the Baggies in the table and, while Tony Mowbray’s are not about to set the Premier League alight, they have also showed they can mix it with the best.

Wins over West Ham, Middlesbrough and Fulham already this season, as well as a narrow defeat at Arsenal, show West Brom mean business, leaving Rovers full back Danny Simpson warning of another difficult afternoon ahead.

He said: “This is my first full season in the Premiership but the teams that have come up, the difference is there seems to be no fear factor there.

“They are confident they can beat any team. Maybe in the past, teams that came up were a bit scared of certain teams and certain games. In fact some you could see they thought they would not be able to cut it.

“But this season it is almost the opposite. They are so confident and are going into games almost thinking they have nothing to lose. That makes them very dangerous opponents. Fair play to them all, they are surprising everyone.”

Some Rovers fans will see a trip to West Brom as the ideal fixture for a side without a win in four games themselves.

But Simpson insists there will be no danger of any complacency in a league he describes as the most competitive in the world.

“You can’t go into any game expecting the three points this season,” he said. “You can get beat by anyone on their day – that is why the Premier League is the best league in the world.

“What Hull, West Brom and Stoke are doing this season is making it even better. We know that every game you have to be 100 per cent concentrated and focused but every team is a quality team in the Premiership.

“There is no given three points so we all have to make sure we do well and work hard.”

While the Manchester United loanee is fully focused on keeping his current employers happy with his performances at Ewood, Simpson admits his performances are not going unnoticed back home at Old Trafford.

The right back is due to return to Manchester at the end of the campaign and he knows the pressure is on as he continues to establish himself in the top flight.

He said: “I am loving it at the moment. I came here to play football and that is exactly what I am doing. I am just enjoying playing week in and week out in the Premiership and watching myself on Match of the Day.

“I am enjoying it. I just hope I can keep improving, keep learning and keep doing well for Blackburn.

“Sir Alex sends one of the coaches to the home games and the away games Blackburn send a DVD to the club to keep any eye on me. So I am hoping I keep doing well or else I know I will get told off by Blackburn and United.

“It is great though. It is good to have the pressure from Blackburn and United. It keeps me on my toes and keeps me doing well.”

Despite Wednesday night’s 3-2 reverse at Aston Villa, Simpson insists there are plenty of positives to be taken ahead of today’s crunch clash.

Free-flowing performances have not warranted the points they have deserved in recent weeks but Rovers’ right back believes it is just a matter of time.

He said: “There has been a lot of different personnel coming in, including myself.

“It has been okay, we are getting there and the gaffer is slowly getting us to how he wants us to be.

“We look kind of solid at the back and we are creating chances going forward. Now we just need to put them in the back of the net and I think it will start to come together.

“Everyone is still confident at Blackburn even though we have had not the results because we are playing well.”