West Brom notebook: Tunde, Nzingoula and striking a balance

A rocket from Callum Styles on the hour appeared to be keeping the points in the Black Country, but stubborn Charlton hit back for an equaliser.

We look at some talking points in the latest Albion notebook.

Tunde shows flashes

The £2.5million recruit from Levante was bright in the closing stages of a debut cameo at Middlesbrough and handed a first start, and home bow, against the Addicks.

Winger Tunde was certainly eager to make his mark. He was busy with and without the ball and always looked to get in on the action.

Reports have described a speedster ready to attack full-backs with bursts of pace. Wily left-back Amari’i Bell was too sharp in that regard, but Tunde impressed in other ways.

The 21-year-old showed the eye for a pass in a creative streak in possession.

Often he looked for a clever chipped pass or lofted dink. He used the outside of his foot and on at least one occasion played a smart reverse pass into an onrushing colleague into the box.

The Spaniard had elements of former attacker Grady Diangana, on his left side. Hopefully Tunde - who James Morrison admitted felt the demanding pace of a Championship fixture - can get up to speed to trouble defences often.

Rabby surely ready?

There is no shortage of excitement around talented French 20-year-old Rabby Nzingoula, who continues to look the part.

He was introduced at half-time for Tunde and excelled on the right flank in the second period. Nzingoula was a key influence as Albion took the lead and was denied just before Styles’ opener.

He has such quick feet and a speedy engine to go along with it. A first move was to dummy a hapless defender with a lovely nutmeg. The former Strasbourg man loves to run at opponents and has a fine eye for a pass and shot.

There is a lot of excitement around this £2m summer recruit and it is very easy to see why. Albion were especially pleased to see off strong competition from Swansea for the youth international’s signature.

He has put himself right in the frame for a nod from Morrison for a first Championship start against Watford on Saturday.

Nzingoula has looked bright every time he has featured. A lot of the time it has come on the right flank and, perhaps most intriguingly, it is said that his more natural role is a central midfield one.

Striking a balance

This new Albion squad and team are learning many things in the opening weeks of the new season and Wednesday was a big lesson.

Charlton, despite their fine start to the season, came to The Hawthorns with the mindset to contain and frustrate.

They were very effective.

They will not be the last team to rock up at Albion’s home with a defensive mindset this season.

Morrison made the point afterwards of how, for much of last season and certainly during the spring surge to safety, the Baggies had to be a compact unit and fight for scraps.

Now they play a fluid, possession game where in all league games so far this term Morrison’s men have had more of the ball.

It is a drastic change in style - and mentality - and will take some time against stubborn opponents. Morrison and coaching staff Matt Gill and Gavin Strachan will be working to help the side pick the lock more often.