ROY Hodgson doesn’t really seem comfortable with adulation.

Back-slapping, praise and questions about Albion’s new-found rigidity and organisation are met with a shrug, a deep sigh and a roll of the eyes.

As Hodgson rightly points out, the job has barely begun.

Nowhere were Albion’s new qualities more in evidence than at Blues, where they were fairly comprehensive victors over a weary and patched-up side.

Alan Hansen might not have wanted to see the match – mind you he also tipped Arsenal to wallop Blues in the Carling Cup final – but the supporters have bought into Hodgson’s philosophies.

The Albion manager’s reticence to get carried away is understandable, not least as he is probably still a little scarred from the culture of buffoonery at Liverpool.

Perhaps his unwillingness to embrace hyperbole comes from the task which awaits.

Because, for all of Albion’s vast improvement, comes the feeling that their biggest hurdle to survival has come courtesy of the Premier League fixture computer.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool – how Hodgson will fancy that one – have yet to visit The Hawthorns.

Those games throw up the inevitable and obvious problems.

And, not for the first time this season, Albion fans must be looking across at the developments at Villa Park and wishing the visit of Gerard Houllier’s men was a week away, not towards the end of the season.

Everton, one hopes, might be stopping off en route to The Hawthorns to buy some sun cream by the time they pitch up at B71.

Away from home Albion’s task is also a mixed bag.

Yet Saturday’s victory at St Andrew’s underlined all that Hodgson has brought to the party.

A resilience, an organisation and a strength of will and attitude.

Think back to some of the dreadful performances against Manchester City, Fulham and Blackburn – how costly were those lost six points against a poor Rovers side? – and it’s hard to believe this is the same set of players.

Hodgson’s subtle changes have made the spine of the side stronger.

The Scharner-Mulumbu axis, which served Albion so well at the start of this season, has seldom looked as effective as it did on Saturday.

True, Blues missed Barry Ferguson and Craig Gardner, but even with those two players available, you can’t help thinking the Baggies would still have enjoyed periods of dominance.

Paul Scharner was driven and demanded similar from those around him.

It was a rousing performance from the Austrian, who has taken a while to reproduce his best for the club but now looks to be a crucial element of the midfield.

He is helping to nurture Youssouf Mulumbu, whose growth into an accomplished midfielder will be one of the highlights of this season.