Albion came from behind to claim a fantastic 3-1 opening day victory over QPR on Saturday afternoon.
Lucas Andersen’s effort had initially put Rangers ahead at the MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium - but Josh Maja’s outstanding hat-trick earned the Baggies all three points.
Carlos Corberán’s men return to action this coming Tuesday when they face Fleetwood away in the Carabao Cup.
![Josh Maja celebrates with his teammates at QPR](https://cdn.wba.co.uk/sites/default/files/2024-08/team_cele_v_qpr.jpg)
The boss handed a competitive debut to Torbjorn Heggem in the capital, while also welcoming Karlan Grant back with a start following last season’s loan spell.
However his side, despite playing some good football during the early stages, fell behind inside 16 minutes via Andersen’s header.
To their credit, though, Albion didn’t let that early goal deter them - and they found an equaliser midway through the first half. A flowing passage saw Heggem reach the touchline and send his cross towards Maja, who nodded home the leveller.
![Josh Maja celebrates with Darnell Furlong](https://cdn.wba.co.uk/sites/default/files/2024-08/maja_equaliser_cele_qpr.jpg)
The Baggies were looking bright and, although they couldn’t find another before the break, it took them just six second period minutes to net again.
Another excellent move involving the visitors’ electric midfield eventually enabled Fellows to delicately set-up Maja once more, and he made no mistake in front of the travelling 1,700 supporters.
![An image of Tom Fellows celebrating Josh Maja's goal](https://cdn.wba.co.uk/sites/default/files/2024-08/fellows_maja_cele_qpr.jpg)
Albion’s No.9 wasn’t done there, either. He rounded-off a perfect individual performance by securing his hat-trick, acrobatically latching onto a deflected ball for his and the away side’s third.
![An image of Josh Maja celebrating his hat-trick goal with a shrug and a smile](https://cdn.wba.co.uk/sites/default/files/2024-08/maja_cele_qpr_goal.jpg)
While Maja will rightly earn the plaudits, it was an impressive showing from everyone in pink - and there were also further positives in the form of new signings Devante Cole, Ousmane Diakite, Lewis Dobbin and Gianluca Frabotta earning their debuts.
Heggem and captain Kyle Bartley both helped the Baggies preserve their two-goal lead late on as the hosts tried to salvage something, bravely blocking dangerous attempts, while Palmer tipped Jimmy Dunne’s strike over the crossbar too.
And those stops ensured it remained 3-1 at full-time, leaving Albion to celebrate three Sky Bet Championship points in matchweek one.
Albion: Palmer; Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Heggem (Frabotta); Molumby (Diakite 76), Mowatt; Fellows (Dobbin 81), Swift, Grant; Maja (Cole 76).
Substitutes: Wildsmith, Taylor, Hall, Heard, Faal.