Derby 0 West Brom 2 match analysis and pictures

No amount of pre-season successes is likely to deter Baggies boss Steve Clarke from pushing ahead with much-needed squad strengthening at The Hawthorns.

But if Graham Dorrans and Markus Rosenberg have their way, any new faces will have to fight for a place in Albion's team.

Dorrans faces a huge season that could be pivotal for a career that has stalled since he led the Baggies to promotion in 2010.

But Saturday's victory at Pride Park not only included a thunderbolt goal from the midfield man, it also featured a highly-encouraging all-round display in front of watching Scotland manager Gordon Strachan.

Rosenberg only managed 12 minutes on the pitch in Derby, but the Sweden man took his pre-season goal tally to two in three public outings.

If Clarke gets his wish for extra firepower in his squad, Rosenberg, who has looked bright and keen during an impressive pre-season programme, seems intent on making the new man wait for a place in the side.

The only new arrival so far this summer again pulled many of the strings for Albion on Saturday – Nicolas Anelka has so far taken each of the Baggies' friendlies in his stride and once more got the travelling fans buzzing on Saturday with an array of tricks.

And Youssouf Mulumbu, whose preparations for the new campaign took a while to get going after a summer of international duty, produced an influential display at the heart of midfield.

Add into the mix a top-drawer save to cap a faultless display from goalkeeper Ben Foster, and Albion's first pre-season outing on English soil was an extremely rewarding experience.

Anelka injected a spark into proceedings after a low-key opening 13 minutes when he drifted into space and exchanged passes with Dorrans before seeing his shot blocked by defender Jake Buxton.

And moments later, Dorrans drove to the edge of the Derby box with the help decoy runs from Anelka and Shane Long before drilling a low shot just wide.

Foster was called upon midway through the first half when he dived to his left to palm away a 20-yard shot from Will Hughes that he saw late.

There were inevitable lulls in a pre-season warm-up game but Albion always possessed an extra spark.

On the half hour, a crisp move saw James Morrison produced an inch-perfect pass for Chris Brunt, whose low, left-footed shot was held by home keeper Lee Grant.

The Baggies went ahead six minutes before half time when Dorrans took matters into his own hands.

The Scot collected a square pass 25 yards out before sending a scorching shot past the helpless Grant.

Early in the second half Anelka got Baggies fans off their seats with a party-piece to unlock the Derby defence.

The Frenchman's backheel played in Liam Ridgewell, whose cross was cleared from the near post as far as Anelka, who curled a right-footed shot too close to Grant.

Ridgewell made amends moments later with a much better cross but, as Long arrived in the six-yard box for a tap-in, Buxton made a vital interception.

Rams substitute Connor Sammon almost netted with his first touch as he turned on the edge of the box and dragged a shot just wide.

Sammon then turned provider when he laid on what looked a certain goal for fellow substitute Michael Jacobs, but they gave Foster the chance to excel with a fabulous reaction save to push Jacobs' shot over the bar.

In the final minute Rosenberg added the Baggies' second and, while the Swede added a deft final touch, the goal owed as much to substitute right-back Billy Jones.

He surged past Craig Forsyth and reached the byeline before picking out Rosenberg, who beat Grant with a classy backheel.

Derby (4-4-2): Grant; Freeman (Davies, 73), Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth; Hendrick, Hughes (Jacobs, 84), Bryson, Ward; Martin, Russell (Sammon, 78). Subs not used: Eustace, Gjokaj, Ball, Hoganson, Legzdins (gk).

Albion (4-4-2): Foster; Reid (Jones, 66), Dawson, Olsson, Ridgewell; Dorrans (Rosenberg, 78), Mulumbu (Yacob, 66), Morrison, Brunt; Long, Anelka (Berahino, 84). Subs not used: Popov, Tamas, McAuley, Roofe, Myhill (gk).

Referee: C Sarginson (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 7,663.

By Steve Madeley