ALBION under-18s coach Gary Dicker believes he is growing into his new role a the club following a good start to the season.

Dicker's side won their first game of the season 2-0 away to Fulham as an own goal and a Joshua Duffus penalty made sure that Albion earned all three points.

The coach and his first pre-season with the team following his appointment last season and he has made sure to make the importance of having that time with the players known.

Dicker told the club website: "It's been a massive difference for myself. For the first six months, I was just discussing and learning things, because you're not quite sure how you want to go about things just yet. 

"Pre-season is so important and we covered everything we wanted to do. Getting your point across in pre-season is really important, it was a lot better than coming in midway through the season like I did last year. It's been great to get to know the players and what they're like.

"Apparently [under-18 midfielder] Joe Knight does a great impression of me, but they all understand my accent now."

On the result against Fulham, Dicker was happy to see his side take their form from pre-season into the season proper.

He said: "It was a really good performance. We've taken our form from pre-season into the league. I am really happy with the group, even the boys who weren't playing have been just as important as they've pushed the boys on who have been starting.

"For me it was a mature performance, they controlled the game well which we didn't always do last season. It was against a good Fulham team as well, it was a good start."

The 36-year-old, who made over 150 appearances for Albion during his playing career, has also praised the systems in place at the club, which provide opportunities for youngsters to train with the first team.

This system was in full swing last season, as six academy graduates made their first-team debuts during the campaign.

Dicker believes that the pathway for developing players at Albion is the "best" that he has seen in football.

He said: "We had one or two players training with the first team last week which was brilliant.

"You don't usually get a 16-year-old training with the first team, let alone at a Premier League club.

"The pathway and the way the club is run, we have that continuity between the under-18s, the under-21s and the first team, which is second to none, it is the best I have seen at any level.

"The first team coaches trust in the players they have in the building first, they trust us to get on with our jobs and ask for our opinion."