ALBION 3  BOURNEMOUTH 1

Roberto De Zerbi does not leave Kaoru Mitoma out of his Albion side very often.

When Bournemouth visited the Amex last season, he said he could not take the Japan winger off because there was always a chance of a goal.

That was after he headed a very late winner.

De Zerbi left him out from the start this time.

And the results when he unleashed him, along with Ansu Fati, were spectacular.

Even more spectacular than last season, Mitoma took less than 20 seconds to establish a lead for an Albion team who deserved to be behind at half-time rather than level.

The path to three points was not totally smooth but the win was on its way when Mitoma guided home an expert header from Pervis Estupinan’s cross after strong work by Carlos Baleba.

It was, in the end, a reassuring way to end a hugely demanding week and De Zerbi will be delighted with how his side – and Mitoma - responded to a setback.

The head coach had delivered on his promise to make “a lot” of changes, with nine alterations to the XI which kicked off versus AEK Athens.

That meant, most notably, a return for Lewis Dunk while Evan Ferguson also started.

Simon Adingra was on his preferred left wing with Facundo Buonanotte on the right and Adam Webster, hailed as “a leader” by De Zerbi ahead of the game, returned in defence.

Pascal Gross was not in the squad after picking up an injury on Thursday.

The visitors brought in Justin Kluivert for Dango Ouattara as their only alteration.

It soon looked like being an afternoon for patience from Albion and their fans.

Bournemouth blocked short passing options and returning keeper Bart Verbruggen found it hard to find a target.

That all came to a head on 25 minutes as Ryan Christie nicked the ball away from the keeper and Dominic Solanke coolly chipped the it back into an empty net.

It was cat and mouse, after the Lord’s Mayor Show, and it was quiet around the Amex – everything one feared this might have been on a sunny Sunday afternoon after the Thursday night before.

But Albion did just enough late in the half to secure a parity they did not deserve.

Webster had a shot blocked in the goalmouth when a corner led to a melee but the Cherries’ respite was short-lived.

Billy Gilmour crossed from the left and the ball flicked in off Milos Kerkez as the Bournemouth players seemed to confuse each other under little pressure.

Even then they nearly regained the lead right on half-time as Philip Billing curled a 25-yard free-kick inches past the far post.

Albion sent on Mitoma and Ansu Fati at the break.

The home team were back out a bit early, sprinting into position as if they really meant business.

Within 20 seconds they were ahead after Ansu won the ball back from kick-off.

Mitoma made the first move and found Ansu wide on the left.

The latter fed the ball back in and there was a lovely little touch by Mahmoud Dahoud before Mitoma finished well.

The game had changed and the chances started to come.

Dunk headed wide at the far post from a Gilmour corner.

Then Ansu got his touch all wrong when Adingra picked him out in front of goal with a low delivery from the right.

Carlos Baleba, on as sub for a very positive debut, had a big part in the third goal.

He lost the ball, then won it back and play was worked to the left.

Estupinan delivered a pinpoint cross and Mitoma was just as precise with his header, guiding it across the keeper as no defender picked up his run.

Albion continued to be dangerous – and occasional live dangerously, notably when Dunk cleared off the line after a sharp initial save from Verbruggen to thwart Antoine Semenyo.

The keeper’s earlier dodgy moment had been overcome, if not forgotten.

There is plenty still to work on for Albion but we know how they play.

We don’t know how far they can go – but this was a test passed.

Albion: Verbruggen; Veltman, Dunk, Webster, Estupinan; Dahoud (Baleba 74), Gilmour; Buonanotte (Mitoma 46), Welbeck (Joao Pedro 63), Adingra (Lamptey 87); Ferguson (Ansu 46). Subs: Steele, Igor, Lallana, March.

Goals: Kerkez OG 45+2, Mitoma 46, 77.

Yellow card: Veltman 37, Gilmour 45+3 Bournemouth: Neto; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Kelly (Senesi 83), Kerkez; Cook, Billing (Brooks 82); Tavernier (Ouattara 63), Christie (Traore 82), Kluivert (Semenyo 64); Solanke. Subs: Radu, Brooks, Rothwell, A Smith, Sinisterra.

Goal: Solanke 25.

Yellow card: Zabarnyi 40, Brooks 89, Senesi 90+8.

Referee: John Brooks.

VAR: Michael Oliver.