The Baggies lost last season's Championship play-off final to Derby, and whilst West Brom dusted themselves down to life the title - the Rams endured a torrid campaign and finished on the least amount of points ever seen in the Premier League.

Mowbray is more than confident his side will avoid the same fate as Derby.

"I am very confident we will avoid that situation," he told Sky Sports News after being named Championship Manager of the Year.

"A lot has been said - Billy Davies had a three-year plan at Derby - I think he got their too early and he was probably a victim of his own success with that team and they probably arrived a bit too early.

"They beat us in the play-offs and maybe an extra year in the Championship building the squad, the team and getting the right mentality, getting the camaraderie amongst the players has probably been a benefit to us so I think we go into the Premier League in a stronger position than if we had lost the play-offs last season."