A ruthless, five-star Albion hammered Portsmouth 5-1 in Tony Mowbray’s first home game back at The Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Alex Mowatt, Grady Diangana (2) and Jed Wallace swept the Baggies into a huge half-time lead.
John Swift added another to complete the emphatic scoreline - despite a Pompey consolation - and secure the hosts’ biggest victory of the campaign.
Mowbray’s men now have a full week until their next outing, away to Plymouth Argyle (ko 12.30pm).
The boss made two switches to his starting XI as captain Wallace and Swift replaced Jayson Molumby (ill) and Karlan Grant.
The Baggies were put under pressure by their visitors during the early stages, Alex Palmer keeping out Andre Dozzell’s volley and Ryley Towler nodding a corner wide.
From then on, though, Albion were utterly dominant. Mowatt began the scoring with a long-range half-volley, which squeezed through goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid.
Diangana then quickly secured the home team’s second. The excellent Mikey Johnston weaving around Portsmouth’s defence and seeing a shot saved, only for Albion’s No.11 to net the rebound.
And it was Diangana who superbly set-up his side’s third, playing former Pompey man Wallace in and watching the skipper convert his first goal this season.
Albion soon rounded-off a brilliant opening period just before the break when Mason Holgate’s direct pass over the top of the Pompey back-line gave Grady the chance to notch again - something he did comfortably.
That same attacking intent grabbed the Baggies a fifth after half-time, too. Johnston caused mayhem once again and fed Swift to smash powerfully past Schmid.
The head coach introduced Isaac Price for his debut and there were further opportunities in the final stages. Most notably Fellows had a finish stopped and, down the other end, Heggem brilliantly blocked Josh Murphy’s attempt.
Pompey did prevent Albion earning a clean sheet, getting a very late consolation via Thomas Waddington, however the three points still firmly went to Mowbray’s boys.
Albion: Palmer; Furlong, Holgate, Heggem, Styles; Swift (Price 61), Mowatt (Diakite 46); Fellows, Diangana (Racic 66), Johnston (Grant 61); Wallace (Cole 61).
Substitutes: Wildsmith, Taylor, Frabotta, Bostock.
Attendance: 25,621 (2,492).