Crystal Palace vs West Brom report: Salomon Rondon's header earns promising three points for Baggies

Crystal Palace 0 West Bromwich Albion 1: Tony Pulis' side confounded the pre-season doubters to start their campaign with a useful three points on the road

Rondon battles for the ball with Mile Jedinak (Getty)

Having acquired the unwanted tag of the bookmakers’ favourite to be the first Premier League manager to be dismissed this season following the arrival of West Bromwich Albion’s new owners, Tony Pulis was entitled to feel more than a passing sense of relief at his side’s opening day victory.

Salomon Rondon’s 74th minute header, together with a committed display from Saido Berahino, provided Pulis with a near- perfect start while the fact victory came at the expense of his former club to whom he was ordered to pay £3.5m following a dispute over a bonus that arose after he left Palace abruptly on the eve of the season two years ago will have done nothing to darken his mood.

Pulis, though, kept his reaction in check, insisting, as he had pre-match, that the club must do significant business before the end of the transfer window. But with Berahino now appearing increasingly likely to see out the final year of contract after spending last season in conflict with his club following a foiled move to Tottenham Hotspur, the manager was entitled to be upbeat.

Rondon rises to head past Hennessey in the Palace goal (Getty)

“I thought we always looked dangerous, so I’m very pleased,” said the manager. “Rondon and Saido together could be a real handful. He was clever, Saido, and we have to get him back to what he was when I first came here. We lost him last year but if we can get him back and playing well, those two will be a real handful. The club won’t let Saido go unless someone comes in. And I hope that doesn’t happen. The only thing I can tell you is he has worked really hard this pre-season. He will wait and see what’s best for him.”

Alan Pardew had fewer grounds for new season optimism after a display that confirmed the flaws that condemned Crystal Palace to a dismal second half of last season have not gone away. Andros Townsend was the only one of Pardew’s three summer signings to feature with Steve Mandanda and James Tomkins not included in the squad, while Yannick Bolasie, destined to complete a £30 million move to Everton this week, was unlikely to mark his likely send-off with a significant contribution after appearing as a substitute.

“The situation with that (the Bolasie deal) is that it’s not quite done that deal but the chances are it will get done,” said Pardew, who was forced to endure boos at the final whistle. “Sometimes as much as I love him and the fans love him, if his heart and soul is not with us then we have to exchange goodbyes and look to get better.

Townsend could not inspire his new team to an opening day win (Getty)

“But even with Yala in the side our record with goals is not great and that as evident in the second half of last season and we need to address that. We lacked the cutting edge, the moment that would have got us the goal. And if we had scored first I think we would have won that.”

In truth, neither side looked likely to conjure a winning goal until Rondon rose to meet James McClean’s free-kick and flick a header inside the far post. Having created little before that moment, Palace were unable to find a way back.

“For us this just highlights our problems and we need to put them right in the transfer window and hopefully we will,” added Pardew.

Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Hennessey 7; Ward 6, Dann 7, Delaney 6, Souare 6 (Kelly 90, 6); Puncheon 6 (Cabaye 74, 6), Jedinak 7; Townsend 7, Lee 6 (Bolasie 63,6), Zaha 6; Wickham 6.

Subs: Speroni, Ledley, Anderson, Ladapo.

West Bromwich Albion (4-4-2): Foster 7; Dawson 7, McAuley 6, Olsson 7, Evans 7; Phillips 7, Yacob 6, Fletcher 6, Gardner 6 (McClean 68); Berahino 7 (Morrison 83,6), Rondon 8.

Subs: Myhill, Morrison, Lambert, Leko, Field, Wilson

Referee: C Pawson 7