Fabian Hurzeler has recalled how his Albion gameplan went up in flames in a 7-0 defeat.
But he expects his side to learn key lessons from last season’s humbling at Nottingham Forest as they make their first return.
Hurzeler predicts “a big battle” at the City Ground against Sean Dyche’s improving side on Sunday.
Albion responded well to last season’s defeat, in which they committed tactical errors, mistakes on the pitch and were also on the end of some bad luck against a Forest side fired up by a 5-0 defeat at Bournemouth a week earlier.
Hurzeler went into the contest with a one-man midfield and famously set fire to his gameplan after the match.
He said: “I think from every game you can take something away.
“Of course it was a terrible defeat, not only for me but I think also for the club, for the team, for the supporters.
“After that, you do analysis, you reflect, you try to create the right solutions.
“Of course, this game helped regarding our development.
“After the game we burnt something. I think everyone knows it.
“When you create a fire, there are still some little things in the air.
“So it is about cleaning up the air. Doing the basic things right. Doing the things that make us strong.
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“Don't try to go there and think you can play a little bit of football.
“It's about hard work, it's about like being ruthless.
“It's about doing the small margins right because Nottingham Forest’s style of play is quite effective, so you have to be switched on for 90 minutes.
“You have to bring an intensity on the pitch for 90 minutes.
“You have to be good in set-pieces for 90 minutes, good in rest defence, all these small things.
“But, first of all, it's not about which tactic you choose.
“It's about the right attitude, the right mindset to step into the game, to accept that it's not like a normal football game.
“It's a fight. It's a big battle there and, like this, you have to go there and this has to be our approach.”
