The Verdict: Frustration after big win a good sign for West Brom

But then all indications from his early career in the dugout point to James Morrison being something of a perfectionist.

For most of Saturday evening in Rotherham, his Albion team were delivering a performance with which their head coach could have few complaints.

Four goals, three of them scored by debutants and another from the latest exciting product from the club’s academy, had them cruising into the second round of the Carabao Cup for the first time in four years.

Then a lapse of concentration at the back allowed Fabio Tavares to score a late consolation for the League Two hosts and Morrison conceded, for all the good he had seen from his team, it was that memory which would niggle at him when he sat on his sofa later in the night.

It’s hardly the worst attitude to have and encouragingly, it seemed to be shared by many of his players, who know far bigger tests lie ahead.

Reading too much, if indeed anything, into pre-season performances and results is always unwise and it serves to take only a little more stock in what happens on the opening day of the season.

When the first fixture is against a team two divisions below, that’s even more so the case. The first serious examination for the Baggies comes next Saturday at Norwich. That’s when we’ll get the first real idea of the kind of shape they are in. Morrison does not need telling.

Yet for all the necessary caveats and for all that the head coach is correct to be tough on his team, Saturday undoubtedly provided reasons for optimism in a unit which, let’s not forget, is still in development with more additions certain in the final three weeks of the transfer window.

The standout was obviously Jimmy-Jay Morgan, who continued his impressive form from pre-season by netting twice on his competitive debut.

First, the summer buy from Chelsea showed great anticipation to linger as Harry Whitwell fired toward goal and then neat footwork to redirect the slightly scuffed effort beyond Millers goalkeeper Ted Cann to open the scoring in the eighth minute.

Morgan’s second came just past the hour mark when he rose to meet Callum Styles’ cross and send a header back across goal and into the far corner to put the Baggies 4-0 up.

In between he was involved in the move which saw Whitwell bag the visitors’ second of the match, firing a shot which Cann could only parry into the path of his team-mate, while there were several other examples of encouraging link-up play.

As Morgan and his manager would later observe, there is room for improvement. More than once, he was caught on the ball, most seriously late in the first half to allow Emmanuel Adegboyega the chance to fire a wayward attempt at the visiting goal.

“He needs to cut down on the daydreaming,” Morrison remarked, aware Championship opponents will not be so forgiving.

Morgan agreed and at the age of just 20, knows this season promises to be something of a learning curve, regardless of his strong start.

The same applies to Whitwell who, in the space of 45 minutes, banished any lingering notion this campaign might be one spent out on loan.

Indeed, providing the knock which forced his half-time exit is not more serious than first believed, he surely stands a decent chance of keeping his place in the starting XI at Norwich.

Morrison’s answer to his current lack of wingers was to change his system, so while Whitwell and Isaac Price both started in wide positions, they spent most of the first half drifting infield and causing countless headaches for the hosts.

While Whitwell’s assist for the opener might have been slightly unintentional, there was no mistake about the light touch which diverted Price’s pass around a defender and into the path of Morgan in the move which led to him scoring the second.

His greatest competition for a starting place next Saturday is likely to come from the man who replaced him off the bench. Felix Horn Myhre added another big tick in the positives column by scoring his first Albion goal just 10 minutes into his debut.

The Norway international had taken part in just two training sessions prior to the match but instantly looked at home, despite switching positions more than once during his 45 minutes on the pitch. Morrison later marvelled at both the midfielder’s relaxed, confident attitude and his versatility.

There was further good news in the sight of Mikey Johnston getting his first competitive minutes since the ankle injury sustained in late February which kept him sidelined for Albion’s late season charge to safety. Ousmane Diakite, meanwhile, delivered the kind of dominant midfield display essential if the Baggies are to thrive in the relentless, unforgiving world of the Championship.

They will have nowhere near so much time to look good on the ball at Norwich. Only at Carrow Road will Albion’s defensive structure get its first real examination. The hope is the mood of optimism remains undamaged come next Saturday evening. For now it is best to follow the advice of Morrison and dilute it with some caution.