West Brom v Burnley preview: Clarets praised as top Championship outfit

The Clarets appointed Scott Parker to replace Vincent Kompany in the summer and enjoyed a solid start to the Championship season but come to The Hawthorns without a win in three.

Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Millwall came two days after Corberan's troops claimed a point at Luton's Kenilworth Road. The Baggies head coach reckons Burnley's narrow defeat in the capital did not come as any surprise to him due to a competitive Championship.

Corberan did flag Burnley, however, as among the division's top three squads. He placed the Turf Moor club in the same bracket as fellow Premier League relegation victims Sheffield United and last season's beaten play-off finalists Leeds.

The head coach rates Albion in a chasing pack of 14 clubs hunting down the squads packed with automatic promotion-level quality - though he did add that early leaders Sunderland are very much deserved of their position.

"I think in this league it is difficult to predict results," said Corberan. "This year is going to be especially difficult to predict results.

"There are some squads that can be one step in front of others, a couple, two or three. And after that there is a group of 14 teams, in my opinion, where all the squads are at a similar level with strengths and weaknesses but with options."

The head coach added:  "Leeds is one squad I consider a good level, a different level. Probably Sheffield United, with the deduction of two points, (their position) shows they are in this level.

"And after that Burnley is another of these squads in terms of players arrived from the Premier League and is a squad that has extra.

"I cannot put Sunderland in this group in terms of the bodies, but in terms of performances everyone is where they deserve. It is like Ipswich last year, Ipswich was not in the level of Leicester, Southampton or Leeds but at the end finished in front of two because they deserved it. It is not about budget, it is about how you compete and perform, how consistent you are.

"After this we are in a group of squads with good players, good options in a very equal situation from a competitive point of view. You can beat everyone but everyone can beat you. There is no gap to relax."

Corberan offered examples of recent Championship results and positions in the table as to highlights the division's unpredictability.

"If you ask if it surprised me Cardiff beat Norwich last week? It doesn't surprise me," he said. "Am I surprised Cardiff was in the position they were at the beginning? Yes.

"Am I surprised Coventry are winning games now? It doesn't surprise me. Am I surprised Coventry was in a bad position at the beginning? It surprised me.

"Am I surprised Luton are in this position in the table? It surprised me. Am I surprised Millwall beat Burnley the other day? It doesn't surprise me because I have played against them and I know the difference between all teams is not massive.

"When the difference is not massive the key is to manage every detail well. Use your chances well, use set-pieces well, avoid mistakes and when you have one try not to suffer the worse consequence from it, the goal. Fine margins make a difference."