Albion 3 Plymouth 1 - Analysis

For his next trick, the Albion head coach might want to take on Derren Brown in the race to predict Wednesday's National Lottery numbers.

The cool Italian is going through a magical spell in his football career when he can simply do no wrong.

Di Matteo should enjoy the rarified sporting air he currently breathes as Championship history tells us some tougher spells lie in wait between now May.

But for the time being, he has found the Midas touch that has put the spring back in a step of a team that could so easily have slid from Premier League relegation into terminal Championship depression.

And no-one in the Baggies line-up epitomised the change of mood quite like Cech, whose face on Saturday evening was the picture that painted a thousand words

For a man who barely figured in the ill-fated Premier League campaign, Cech seemed at the weekend to embody all that is different between the depressing end to last season and the uplifting start to this.

From the depths of despair to the height of optimism - the phrase was as true of Cech as it was of the wider club on Saturday as the 'Di Matteo' effect continued to make itself felt at The Hawthorns.

For Cech, his match-winning brace marked the biggest step yet on a personal journey from the low-point of a successful career last term to the rebuilding of his tarnished reputation.

For Albion, the comfortable victory over a woeful Pilgrims team confirmed their most impressive start for six years, since Gary Megson's side won five of their opening six matches on their way back to the Premier League a year after their own relegation.

For Di Matteo, the latest success on home soil was simply further evidence that his mission to turn the mood of his team on its head is turning into a resounding success.

Not since the 1997/98 campaign have Albion remained unbeaten through their opening six League matches. Until now.

While that side failed to cash in on their excellent start under Ray Harford, there are indications of real substance in the team built largely by Tony Mowbray but already carrying a clear Di Matteo stamp.

It was Cech who proved the match-winner on Saturday with two goals and an intelligent, hard-working performance that was his most eye-catching since his £1.4m move Porto more than 12 months ago.

The new-found spring in his step personified the crowning achievement of Di Matteo's opening months in charge at The Hawthorns – the re-introduction of morale into the ranks.

Cech ended last season frozen out and depressed and spent most of the summer hunting desperately for an escape route from the Black Country.

But the head coach blocked his exit, offered him reassurance and gave him a second chance in England. Against his better judgement, Cech accepted the olive branch and on Saturday he and the Baggies began to reap the rewards.

His stunning first goal – a vicious 25-yard drive that was still rising as it struck the roof of Romain Larrieu's net – will live long the memory. And it proved vital as it handed the Baggies the lead before half-time after Shelton Martis had cancelled out Jamie Mackie's opener for Argyle.

His second – a clinical 10-yard header from a Graham Dorrans cross – calmed any remaining nerves by confirming victory for Albion on a day when they never got close to top gear and yet were still excellent value for their three points.

And his all-round display spoke of a man now at one with his team-mates having spent most of his time in the Midlands seemingly at odds with those around him.

He should, by rights, have walked away with the match-ball with two presentable chances missed and a seemingly good goal ruled out by a dubious offside flag.

His overall performance was the highlight of a pleasing, yet routine, day for the hosts, although the pivotal contribution from midfield inspiration Dorrans ran his Slovakian colleague's efforts extremely close.

Dorrans' inclusion at the heart of midfield ahead of Robert Koren was one that could have backfired in the eyes of the Baggies faithful had it gone wrong, given the dynamic display of the Slovenian in the previous Hawthorns clash against Ipswich.

But Di Matteo had the courage of his convictions. Given the gaffer's recent 'decision-making' form, we should never have doubted the outcome.

Sure enough, the young Scot was at the heart of all that was good about Albion with his subtle midfield probing moving the Baggies forward and suggesting a footballing maturity well beyond his tender years.

It was his superb corner that was flicked on by Jonas Olsson for Martis to fire Albion level on 34 minutes and confirm their dominance after a shaky start.

And that delivery was typical of the brilliant Dorrans set-pieces that were an eye-catching feature of the afternoon, if only because such deliveries have rarely been guaranteed for the Baggies in recent years.

With Koren waiting in reserve, Dorrans cannot count on his starting place. But his current influence whenever he figures shows he is unlikely to give it up without a fight.

The day was not without its negatives for Di Matteo.

The ease with which Mackie shrugged off Martis to fire Plymouth ahead on 12 minutes will have concerned the Italian, as will the indecision in the box that allowed Karl Duguid to rattle the Baggies crossbar at 2-1.

But the Baggies boss will already be working on solutions to such trifling problems. Such is the momentum behind Di Matteo right now, don't bet against him pulling something out of the bag.

By Steve Madeley