West Brom 1 Bournemouth 0 - Player ratings

BEN FOSTER

Didn’t have that much to do, but when he was called into action, he delivered. Sprung out of his goal quickly to tackle Josh King after Brunt and Hegazi misjudged a ball. 7/10

ALLAN NYOM

Kept the likes of Ryan Fraser and Jordon Ibe quiet by using his strength and staying disciplined. Looked more comfortable at right-back. 7/10

CRAIG DAWSON

Dawson hasn’t always convinced in his preferred position, but barely put a foot wrong here. 7/10

AHMED HEGAZI - Albion man of the match

The perfect debut. A towering header, a clean sheet, and a dominant defensive display in the second half. If he keeps trying to hit volleys on the swivel from the edge of the box, then we could be seeing a new cult hero. Pulis still wants to sign a centre-back, but Hegazi will give anyone a run for their money. 9/10

CHRIS BRUNT

His set-piece deliveries wreaked havoc and left Asmir Begovic unsure whether to come or not. Also looked solid defensively. Still an important player in this, his 11th season for Albion. 7/10

CLAUDIO YACOB

Got an early yellow card for persistent fouling but the wily Argentinian has plenty of experience managing such situations. His 94 per cent pass success was Albion’s highest. 7/10

MATT PHILLIPS

His electric pace and ability to burst past defenders makes him one of the team’s most exciting players, but his deliveries are also dangerous. Bournemouth doubled up at times, not that it helped. 7/10

JAKE LIVERMORE

The captain’s armband was hardly a millstone, if anything it spurred him on more. Was regularly looking for Rodriguez’s runs in behind, particularly in the first half. 7/10

SAM FIELD Lacked the dynamism of the rest of the team, but grew into the game as it wore on and started to use his strength more and more. Tidy in possession, he didn’t look out of place. 6/10

JAMES MCCLEAN

His blood-and-thunder style got up the noses of Bournemouth’s pretty passers. Deserves to keep his place in the team. 7/10

JAY RODRIGUEZ

Flew out of the blocks, and fashioned himself five chances in the first 15 minutes. Couldn’t keep that tempo up, but was a constant threat. 8/10

REKEEM HARPER (FIELD 70)

Took a few minutes to settle but after that the 17-year-old looked a box-to-box menace. 7/10

HAL ROBSON-KANU (PHILLIPS 72)

Badgered the Bournemouth defence. 6/10

SALOMON RONDON (RODRIGUEZ 88)

Sulked on and off but nearly scored. 6/10