Slaven Bilic has warned that last season’s finishing position and the move to a new stadium has seen hopes rise but that expectancy levels need to be managed.

The boss, talking in his London Evening Standard column, said: “If we think, though, that we can win any game just because we moved stadiums or because we did well last season, then it is a big mistake.

I don’t think that sort of attitude started with the players but it was reflected in the performance against Watford and we have to eradicate that immediately.

We have to get back that edge – that hunger we showed throughout last season. A defeat such as that last weekend can be — should be — a turning point for us. We have to react.

Okay, we can, we will, lose other games but not in the way it happened against Watford.

You can find excuses for anything in your life. When I was late for an appointment today I could find excuses but I didn’t feel good about it. I’m going to try not to be late again.”

And he indicated that the team may be going back to basic at West Brom tomorrow saying: “Yes, I want us to play attractive football and to entertain our supporters but that is the cherry on top of the cake.

“What we must not forget is what helped us to the point of having praise heaped upon us last season and — for some of the players — new contracts.

Then, when we are doing that, we can try rabona after rabona.

Yes, we could hypothetically score some spectacular goals from free-kicks in every match but if we defend like we did against Watford, we will still lose.

I’m expecting a big-time response tomorrow at West Brom. We have to dig in and, if we do that, I fear no-one.

What brought us all the good things were basics, like running for each other, defending as a team, playing all the time like it is the last minute of the final game of your life.

That is what we must remember and that is what we have to do again.

What gives me hope and belief is that we did it last season. I’m not showing them videos of Atletico Madrid and saying, ‘listen, you should be playing like these guys’.

Okay, we have done it for some of the time this season but you have to do it all the time. That is what serious football at this level is all about — to do it minute after minute, day after day, week after week. That is the key.”