The Baggies were tipped for immediate Premier League relegation after finishing as runners-up to Newcastle in the Championship in the last campaign.
But Di Matteo's men have come from at least one goal down in five of their last six matches to register the points to earn a current league position of sixth.
Ahead of Saturday's meeting with Fulham, the Italian thinks that a never-say-die attitude has been an important element of their formula.
Di Matteo, whose side have scored their last 11 goals in the second half of matches, said: "Last season we won a lot of points in the last 15 minutes of games and we've carried on that way.
"You tell your players never to give up, but it's more about instilling it into them on a daily basis.
"It's a philosophy to have and doesn't matter what league you are in."
Di Matteo will come up against a former Chelsea team-mate in current Fulham boss Mark Hughes at the Hawthorns.
He said: "Mark and myself roomed together early on at Chelsea. The coaching staff decided 'we'll put this young boy with one of the experienced British lads'. But communication was a problem.
"I couldn't speak the language then and I don't think Mark's Spanish was very good!
"He's done very well as a manager even though he took the unusual route of starting off in international football with Wales."
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