Five talking points from West Brom's FA Cup win over Exeter City

1 PROFESSIONAL JOB GIVES BAGGIES A BUILDING BLOCK

Exeter were poor in the first half, but Albion still had to get through the tie and not every Premier League side managed that against lower-league opposition. It ended the winless run and gives Albion something to build on in the run-up to the Brighton match.

Defeat would have been disastrous, and the Baggies were on a hiding to nothing in some respects, but it was a reassuringly comfortable afternoon in the most part. But it needs to kick-start a run in the league.

2 SMALL SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT FROM STRIKERS

Salomon Rondon and Jay Rodriguez both scored, each taking their tallies for the season to five goals in all competitions (although both of them have two against League Two sides). However, both have scored twice in their last four outings, and there are tentative signs that they are starting to threaten the goal a bit more.

Their finishing prowess has come under question this season, but perhaps a morale-boosting victory – and the prospect of a new signing stealing their place – is just what they need to kick on.

3 PENALTY FARCE IS WORRYING

There were mitigating circumstances. Before Rodriguez’s spot-kick against Arsenal, Albion hadn’t been awarded a penalty for more than 50 games and Rondon didn’t feature against the Gunners. But that doesn’t excuse the absolute farce that took place just before half-time.

Rondon and Rodriguez couldn’t agree who was taking it so compromised and let Hal Robson-Kanu step up. His tame effort was one of the worst Albion penalties in living memory, and suggests that preparation was not nailed down properly.

4 GARETH MCAULEY’S RETURN ENCOURAGES

The concern was that once the 38-year-old stopped playing regularly, it would be difficult for him to get up to speed again. But McAuley didn’t put a foot wrong on Saturday and afterwards Pardew hailed him as man of the match.

Premier League sides will be more of a test than League Two Exeter of course, but McAuley couldn’t have done much more to persuade Pardew he’s ready to step up. And he could become an important player in the second half of the season if Jonny Evans does leave for pastures new.

5 GRZEG WILL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY UNDER PARDEW

Incredibly, it was Grzegorz Krychowiak’s first victory for Albion since his loan move from Paris Saint-Germain. And he was one of the catalysts for the win, putting in one of his better performances of the season after keeping his place in the line-up.

He was defensively sound and drove the team forward on the counter. There has been speculation he could leave in January, but the Polish midfielder is set to see out his season-long loan, particularly now he is being picked.