West Bromwich Albion 7 - Queens Park Rangers 1

Brendan Clegg:

Difficult to know how to report this one because QPR were so very bad.

We were dominant from the first whistle, putting QPR under enormous pressure, pressing high and in numbers.

We looked like were playing 3-4-1-2 with Barnes in the hole centrally but for a lot of the time it morphed into a 3-2-3-2 with Livermore and Brunt deeper and Phillips and Gibbs spending long periods on the attack.

After wave after wave of attack we ran out of steam for 5 minutes before breaking the deadlock - Barnes, who was the game’s best player, winning it high then playing it wide. JRod missed a sitter firing straight at the keeper before Phillips drilled it home low and hard.

We were so in control only to concede a pathetic goal from a set play again. ‘Uncle Tony’ must be rubbing his hands for next week so expect a bombardment. Too many players to blame but it was so simple. We were a bit shell-shocked by that and meandered to halftime.

At the break it felt like Mowbray days. We needed to come out on fire and score a couple of quick goals. And so it happened. Despite some ropey play early doors a bit of movement secured a penalty, JRod slotted home to settle us and from there on in as QPR tried to get into it a bit more they left gaps and the sheer strength, pace and fitness of Gibbs & Phillips out wide combined with Barnes’ terrific quality, JRod’s movement and Gayle’s relentless runs seemed to carve them open every time we won the ball back.

It was too much, they capitulated and we scored a further 5 with subs getting in on the act.

It takes a lot of hunger to score this many goals in a competitive game. I also think Moore and his coaches deserve credit for going with a system that focusses on our attacking power. Not sure we can play this way every week and Boro away will be a real test although nothing will be sweeter than stuffing a Pulis team and with Barnes in the team centrally we have a player who can really hit them from range as a counter to his low block tactics.

If I had one complaint from the game it was the subs. I thought with 15 to go it was a great chance to get Field and Burke some minutes - not sure we gained much from the Barry, Mozza & HRK cameos.

Incredible really but can’t see how Chadli gets into this team if he stays. Barnes shows such desire and hunger that he’s edged ahead of him for me.

• Johnstone - 6 Not much to do.
• Bartley - 6 Seemed concussed to me. Some ropey moments.
• Hegazi - 6 Good and bad as per.
• Tosin - 6 Decent, leggy, seemed to enjoy system.
• Phillips - 8 Great goals, relentless running. Showing the best hunger, desire and belief we’ve ever seen from him.
• Livermore - 7 Burly performance but was too much for them.
• Brunt - 6 Showed leadership and fight but a few hit and hope moments.
• Gibbs - 8 Best game in ages. Reaction to Townsend’s performances or in a system that’s perfect for him? Bit of both but his quality and running were superb.
• Barnes - 9 We found a formation to get him on the ball centrally and he was unplayable at times. Koumas in style.
• JRod - 7 2 good pens, loads of running. Enjoyed it.
• Gayle - 7 pace, effort and running gives us that extra dimension we’ve lacked.

• Subs - All did a decent job but where was the youth?

Steve Fereday:

I was at the Albion v Coventry game in 1978 when we won 7-1. Was that the last time we scored 7 in a league game? It was a brilliant performance I recall. Only 40 years ago... Happy days.

Peter Wall:

It should be a joy to report on yesterday’s result but I am still suffering after-shock and a sense of guilt, having criticised the team at half-time. This was the complete definition of a game of two halves.

I have been searching through the record books... I think our last 7 goal tally was against Barnsley in May 2007. I recall vividly our 8 goals against Burnley in November 1967 because I came up from Bristol University for the day, plus girlfriend because she had never been to a Football game.

We have now scored 13 goals in 4 League games — it took us until 17th December last season to reach that total. Rodriguez (4) Phillips (3) Robson-Kanu (2) Barnes (2) Gayle and Gibbs.

Frankly, I was worried at half-time... so was Baggie Boiler because he came out at Half Time to help the subs warm up. Although Barnes threatened every time he had the ball, I felt that Brunt was being over-run in midfield and the solitary QPR goal was the result of non existent defensive marking (Pulis will have noted this as we visit him next).

Difficult to single out anyone in particular, apart from Barnes, but Gibbs, Phillips, Rodriguez and even Livermore just took QPR apart. Gayle has won 3 penalties in 2 games... he trips over very convincingly.

Looking forward, Darren Moore needs to resolve the Right Back issue because our Man City youngster is clearly a central defender.. I would also give Morrison a full game in midfield — he played well against Luton.

My only disappointment was the choice of subs — I did not see what a very slow Barry could add at the time he came on. Surely Field needs a chance... Play it again, Sam.

Other sporting news... Tyson Fury will fight the winner of the Stokes-Cipriani tussle. Where is Nacer Chadli... that former World Cup star? Is he still talking Turkey?

Edinburgh Festival in full flow with One liners. Jokes about White sugar are rare but jokes about brown sugar, demerara. People using selfie sticks really need to have a good long look at themselves.

I mentioned those ridiculous Health & Safety warnings on products last week. Spotted this week... "This Washing Machine is not suitable for use on aircraft".

A final word about Malcolm Jackson who sadly died last week. He sat behind me and had to suffer all my shouting and frustrations. He was a lovely man and a dedicated and longstanding WBA fan. His son Nick is one of our readers. We dedicate yesterday’s result to Malcolm.

No report next week — and I will be missing Mansfield. Regards to all — Peter W (Seven Up all round) (PS Thanks, Brendan for a great Boing Boing summary)

Adrian Chiles is doing a BBC 2 documentary about Alcohol on Monday 27th August (9pm?) – Brief appearance by both my daughter Sarah and me, filmed after a WBA game.