'It should drop': The one big West Brom change to be made compared to last season ahead of the new Championship campaign

Conceding twice in the opening few minutes of the game then falling 4-1 behind to lower league opposition is never good - even if it is a pre-season friendly.

But luckily for Albion it is pre-season, it is a game where results mean nothing and the only thing that matters more than most is fitness.

That is the main thing. But like last summer, when results under Carlos Corberan did not fill many with great confidence, they ended up counting for very little.

What the results did and what the summer in general did was lower the expectation among the fanbase, which was a good thing.

Heading into the final pre-season outing and the first game of the season, expectations were low.

Speaking to many Baggies at the time, they were looking to finish between mid table and the play-offs. As it transpired that happened due to a late drop off, but the expectation level heading into the season was right.

Albion were no longer the top boys in the division, and hadn't been for a few seasons.

The expectation levels quickly rose after five wins in six, before they meandered to a disappointing finish.

This summer should arguably be no different in terms of what Albion are going to be expected to do. But one change is that expectations should be lowered, maybe even more than they were last season.

Why? Because for the quality that Albion have in certain areas, they are still a bit light going into the new campaign.

They've signed Championship experience in Nat Phillips, but the other two signings are unknown to the league and despite paying decent money out for both - it is going to take time for them to adapt.

And above all, the manager is another reason for expectations to be slightly more tempered than 12 months ago. That is no offence to Ryan Mason - who is no doubt a top coach making the jump to management.

It is likely he thrives and does well, like other rookie young managers have. But with him being a management unknown, couple with the above reasons, expectations should really be a slight bit lower this season.

The reality of it is the top teams are still at the top table - but other challengers have arrived this year. Birmingham and Wrexham have the ambition and financial resources to go for a second promotion push on the bounce.

Albion's place in the pecking order has dropped and so should expectations. Because with a lower expectation, being able to exceed it would represent a good, solid first season for Mason.

And who knows, it may work out even better than many expect.