Di Matteo's Albion travel to third-placed Preston on Saturday

West Bromwich Albion manager Roberto Di Matteo has urged his team to get back to basics after two successive defeats.

The Baggies have lost against Crystal Palace and Barnsley, following an unbeaten run of eight league matches at the start of the campaign.

Di Matteo told BBC WM: "The moment you think you don't have to put in the basics, you get hurt.

"We have to pick ourselves up again. We know it's a tough, competitive league and you can't allow teams to play."

Albion were beaten 3-1 by Barnsley at Oakwell on Tuesday, with Di Matteo describing his team's performance as the worst since he took charge of the club in the summer.

"It was terrible," admitted the former Chelsea midfielder. "Everything we did, it didn't go right.

"In the first half we gave away too much space and you can't do that."

Despite their blip, West Brom are still second in the Championship behind Newcastle United, with 20 points from 10 matches.

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