West Brom debrief: Calls for creativity, a bright debut and when will Maja truly re-emerge?
Derby County struck late to spoil the party as Albion celebrated 125 years at The Hawthorns.
Here are some of the latest Baggies talking points in the debrief.
Last season similarity?
Albion, then under Carlos Corberan, made a flying start to last season and were top with five wins from six. Things unravelled thereafter with far too many draws.
It has not been an identical start to this campaign, but a start of three wins from four did encourage supporters as we reached September.
The key for head coach Ryan Mason and his squad here is to react well to a first bump in the road. Albion have, by and large, looked defensively solid so far but it is clear there needs to be more creativity in the final third.
Mason was happy with the performance against Derby overall. So he will want to see more of the same with a more clinical edge added. It has been an encouraging start but it is just that - a start. This is a relatively new-look squad with a new boss and will take time to settle.
Bright Iling-Junior
One attacking plus from the 1-0 defeat was a positive 15-minute debut cameo from deadline day Villa loan winger Sammy Iling-Junior.
