Carabao Cup: Accrington Stanley 1 West Brom 3 - Report and pictures

Salomon Rondon gave the head coach an early reminder of his strengths with an 11th-minute header before Matt Phillips made it two on the half-hour mark.

In the 63rd minute summer signing Jay Rodriguez added a third, and his first of the season, before Tom Dallison grabbed a late consolation for the hosts three minutes from time.

Although Albion were expected to win this tie against League Two opposition, it was a reassuring victory after recent failings in cup competitions against lower-league teams and suggests Pulis's promise to take the cups seriously this season is not just lip service.

The hosts had their chances, and eventually got their goal, but in truth, they were dominated by the Baggies, who might have had six or seven on another night.

Accrington boss John Coleman promised the Premier League stars a hostile reception, and the atmosphere at the Football League's smallest ground was bouncing to the tune of a drum in the home end.

But half of the fans there were supporting Albion. The majority of those were exposed to the elements in the open terraces behind one of the goals but they were treated to some pacy, attacking football from their team.

Last year, the Baggies lost on penalties to League One Northampton Town at this stage but Pulis seemed determined to avoid that ignominy again.

James Morrison returned in central midfield for his first match since damaging his knee ligaments in June, and Nacer Chadli looked lively from the get-go after being handed his first taste of competitive football this season.

Salomon Rondon also started his first game of the campaign, and even though his finishing in the second half left something to be desired, it took the out-of-favour Venezuelan just 10 minutes to get on the scoresheet after a lovely move down the right flank started by Craig Dawson.

The defender fizzed the ball into Jay Rodriguez, who touched it round the corner to Matt Phillips before speeding into the final third for the one-two.

The summer signing then sent in an inviting cross and Rondon - who has always looked more dangerous with his head than his feet ­- got in front of his man before guiding a header into the far corner.

Rodriguez should have added a goal to his assist five minutes later when Phillips burst through and fed him inside the box, but the ball was slightly behind him and his tame shot was straight at Aaron Chapman.

The Baggies were by far the superior outfit, but their hosts refused to roll over meekly and should have levelled mid-way through the half when Scott Brown caught Phillips napping and picked up a short corner.

His cross was well mett by Jonny Edwards but the midfielder couldn't keep his header under the bar.

The hosts, who were determined to play the ball on the floor, then became architects of their own downfall.

After James McClean was shown a harsh yellow card for a typically meaty challenge in the centre circle, Accrington lost possession cheaply from their own free-kick.

Rondon picked the ball up on the left hand side and switched a pin-point cross-field pass to Matt Phillips, who was left in acres of space.

The winger had all the time in the world, and he made no mistake, firing his shot low and hard past Chapman into the far corner.

Rodriguez and Rondon both fired over chances to make it three but the onslaught didn't knock the stuffing out of Stanley, who went close themselves when Liam Nolan volleyed a knock-down over the bar.

Ten minutes after half-time Accrington captain Sean McConville forced Boaz Myhill into his first save of the game with a long-range effort the Welshman had to kick behind.

But it was Rodriguez, who has now scored 11 goals in his last 12 League Cup starts, who continued to buzz around the Stanley box and looked most likely to score.

The summer signing saw two chances saved in quick succession before Rondon blazed over after Chadli had found him in space on the left.

Rondon was then thwarted by Chapman after Morrison slipped him through before Stanley failed to capitalise on their last chance to get back into the game.

Kayden Jackson has scored four goals already this season since joining from Barnsley and the striker wrong side of Dawson - who Accrington boss John Coleman tried to sign from Radcliffe Borough in 2009.

Jackson shot over as he was falling backwards under Dawson's challenge and the hosts wanted a penalty but referee Jeremy Simpson said no.

That proved to be curtains for Accrington, because a minute later, Rodriguez added Albion's third and a deserved first for the club with a clinical low finish.

Perhaps Pulis was waiting for that moment, because he took the former Southampton man off straight after and replaced stand-in captain Gareth Barry with Jake Livermore.

Dallison, who is on loan from Brighton, added a late consolation goal with the first Albion have conceded this season but that won't do much damage to the momentum the Baggies have built themselves from the opening three games.

Accrington Stanley (4-4-2): Chapman; Dallison, Hughes, Richards-Everton, Donacien; Clark, Brown (c) (Conneely 67), Nolan, McConvill (c); Jackson (McLeod 67), Edwards (Kee 54). Unused subs: Jorgensen, Sykes, Ogle, Sousa.

Albion (4-2-3-1): Myhill; Nyom, Dawson, Hegazi, McClean; Barry (c) (Livermore 67), Morrison (Harper 71); Phillips, Rodriguez (Leko 67), Chadli; Rondon. Unused subs: Foster, Brunt, Wilson, Roberts.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson

Attendance: 2,699 (1,297 Albion)