Parkin expects Baggies to set benchmark

Preston striker Jon Parkin believes West Brom will be the team to beat in this season's Coca-Cola Championship promotion race.

The Baggies won the division in 2007-08 but finished bottom of the Barclays Premier League last term to make a swift return to the second tier of English football.

Roberto di Matteo has taken over from Tony Mowbray and Parkin, whose side reached the play-off semi-finals last season, said: "I think West Brom have got to be the favourites this season. Every year they are in this division they seem to be the team to beat and I don`t think this season will be any different."

He added: "They've got a lot of quality players and, while they struggled at times in the Premier League, they are very good at this level."

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