Di Matteo and Hughton led their respective sides to promotion from the Championship last season, but while Di Matteo has earned plaudits for his efforts at Albion, Hughton's position has been under the microscope despite a decent start to the Premier League campaign. Ahead of Sunday's meeting at The Hawthorns, Di Matteo said: "I just find the speculation about Chris incredible. "He has done such a brilliant job since last year, when he was temporary manager. Basically he has stabilised the club and got them promoted and got them in a good position. "Yet he is being questioned. It is incredible and, as a fellow manager, I can't believe it. But other people might have a different opinion. "It is definitely strange looking from here. We don't know the facts, but looking from outside it seems incredible." The Baggies will be looking to build on last weekend's impressive 4-1 win at Everton but Di Matteo is aware how fortunes can quickly change during the second half of a campaign. He said: "I can only speak for ourselves and I think we are pleased with the points we have at this stage of the season. But we realise you can go down the table very quickly, as you can go up it very quickly. "With a couple of wins you go up and, with three or four games without a win, you slide down. "It's all very narrow and tight but, as a newly-promoted club, you need a good start to give yourselves a chance. "Then in December and January there are some important times because you play a lot of games and your squad can be stretched. "That is probably when the bigger clubs with the bigger squads and strength can pull away." Di Matteo added: "Hull had a good start a couple of years ago and couldn't win a game after that and the same happened to Sunderland last season. "It can happen, but not just to us. It can happen to anybody because it's very difficult in the Premier League." Di Matteo is aware Albion will have to be on their guard if they are to snuff out the threat of Newcastle striker Andy Carroll. He said: "Carroll has continued his development and he is very good. "We could see last season that he was a good player and, when Newcastle got promoted, you could see they had a good centre-forward in their team in Carroll. "He is just confirming that this season. "It is difficult to play against Andy Carroll because he is dangerous and he is good with his feet too. It's not just in the air. "He is almost unstoppable and we have seen it in the Barclays Premier League so I don't think it is just one person's job, it is for the whole back four and the team to stop him." Di Matteo will check on the fitness of a quintet of players ahead of tomorrow's game. Chris Brunt (groin), Peter Odemwingie (knee), James Morrison (back), Paul Scharner (knee) and Nicky Shorey (illness) will all be assessed. Midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu will serve the second game of a two-match ban after his sending-off at Everton.
