West Brom 1 Derby 4 - Report and pictures

The Baggies were denied two penalty claims, one soft and one strong, were unfortunate with injuries that forced Kieran Gibbs and Dwight Gayle off at half-time, and gifted Derby their first goal just ten minutes in.

But the way they were outpassed and outclassed by Frank Lampard's clinical young team was a stark warning for this side who have now lost two games in a row.

Two goals in five first half minutes from Jack Marriott and Tom Lawrence stunned the hosts who had won their last five league games here in the opening 15 minutes.

Five minutes after the break Harry Wilson made it three from range and then left-back Scott Malone put the final nail in the coffin with 20 minutes to go.

Although the Baggies, and in particular Harvey Barnes, kept huffing and puffing up front, and pulled a goal back with seven minutes to go when the youngster found Jay Rodriguez in the box, they were far too flimsy at the back and were made to pay in spades.

Sam Field came in for the suspended Jake Livermore and was handed his first start of the season in central midfield. He was one of few men in blue and white who came out of the match positively.

Tosin Adarabioyo replaced the Ahmed Hegazi, who had a tight hamstring, while Matt Phillips returned from injury at right wing-back.

Frank Lampard picked an attacking line-up with youngsters Mason Mount and Harry Wilson in a three-man midfield.

Albion fans have watched their team struggle to play out from the back at times this season, but it was Derby who looked jittery in defence early on, and lost possession in their own half under pressure three times within the first eight minutes.

The early signs were bright but 10 minutes in the Baggies were dealt a sucker-punch when a loose backpass from Rodriguez gifted Derby the lead.

The striker underhit his pass to Sam Johnstone, allowing Jack Marriott to steal in and slide the ball past Albion's keeper for his third goal in three games.

Rodriguez had his head in his hands, but Albion responded and four minutes later Chris Brunt whistled a free-kick just past the post of former Baggies keeper Scott Carson.

A minute later though, their uphill struggle turned into a mountain when Tom Lawrence was allowed to advance into the box with ease before firing in a shot off the far post.

The Baggies had started on top but all of a sudden they found themselves two goals down.

They responded again, and when a piercing diagonal from Kyle Bartley found Matt Phillips he went down in the box under a soft shove but nothing was given and the offside flag went up instead.

There was an urgency to Albion immediately after the goal, and the concern was, in their haste, they would flood forward and allow Derby to pick them off again.

But then the nerves seemed to kick in and the Baggies started misplacing passes all over the pitch as Derby took control of the game.

Johnstone made three smart saves to keep the hosts in it, firstly Scott Malone and then from Tom Huddlestone, before also keeping Jayden Bogle out.

Something had to change drastically, so Moore switched to a back four to try and gain a foothold in proceedings.

And then Rodriguez wasted a glorious chance to get his side back in the game and redeem his early error after robbing Richard Keogh of the ball.

All he had to do was square it to Dwight Gayle, but his tame pass found the keeper this time when he really didn't want it to.

Ten minutes before the break the striker nearly atoned for his two errors, taking a high ball on his chest and juggling it goalwards before firing at Carson, but his shot was saved.

Six minutes before the break the Baggies wanted another penalty when Malone tripped Gayle's trailing leg when he was through on goal, but once again referee Robert Jones said no, sending The Hawthorns apoplectic with rage

Boos greeted the half-time whistle, although the majority were for Jones.

Albion were forced into two changes at half-time when Kieran Gibbs and Dwight Gayle came off through injury for Tyrone Mears and Hal Robson-Kanu. And things continued to go from bad to worse for the Baggies.

After a couple of long-range shots from Barnes at one end, Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson added a third for Derby from 25 yards.

It was a poor clearance from Kyle Bartley, but Johnstone - who had played well up until then - was also rooted to his spot, perhaps unsighted by the bodies in front of him.

By now, Albion had a centre-back at right-back and a right-back at left-back, and it looked it.

Although Barnes and Field both went close with shots, and then Robson-Kanu was denied by a great covering block after good work from Mears, Derby had a far more clinical edge.

With 20 minutes to go, left-back Malone made it four with a goal of consummate ease, picking up a loose Dawson pass before carving Albion open with a simple one-two.

The Hawthorns emptied after that, with many fans having seen enough, although the Derby faithful stayed to Ole every pass from Lampard's visitors until the final whistle.

Rodriguez and Barnes combined in the box with seven minutes to go to grab a consolation, but it was too late to spark a remarkable comeback.

As if to sum up their night, deep into injury time Bartley handled the ball on the Derby goalline, robbing Albion of a late second.

This is the first test of Moore's fledgling managerial career and how he reacts to it will be telling.

The Baggies have got another match at The Hawthorns this Saturday against another upwardly-mobile team. They need a response against Tony Mowbray's Blackburn.

Key moments

10 GOAL DERBY - Marriott pounces on an underhit backpass from Rodriguez to give Derby the lead.

15 GOAL DERBY - Lawrence takes advantage of Albion backing off him and fires in a second off the far post.

16 Phillips wants a penalty when he goes down under a shove but nothing is given and Gayle is flagged offside.

38 Gayle wants a penalty when Malone catches his trailing leg but referee gives nothing.

50 GOAL DERBY - Wilson makes it there with a long-range effort.

71 GOAL DERBY - Malone pounces on a loose pass and carves Albion open with ease.

83 GOAL ALBION - Rodriguez pulls one back after a one-two with Barnes.

90 Baggies have a goal disallowed when Bartley handles the ball on the line.

Albion man of the match

Harvey Barnes - He was the home side's brightest spark, again. Albion are too reliant on him.

Teams

Albion (3-4-1-2): Johnstone; Bartley, Adarabioyo, Dawson; Phillips (Morrison 62), Brunt (c), Field, Gibbs (Mears 45); Barnes; Rodriguez, Gayle (Robson-Kanu 45).

Unused subs: Myhill, Edwards, Hoolahan, Sako, Robson-Kanu.

Derby County (4-3-3): Carson; Bogle, Keogh (c) Tomori, Malone (Forsyth 80); Wilson, Huddlestone, Mount; Waghorn (Nugent 72), Marriott (Bennett 67), Lawrence.

Unused subs: Roos, Davies, Johnson, Holmes.

Referee: Rob Jones

Attendance: 22,848