Salomon Rondon's second-half header ensured that West Bromwich Albion got their 2016-17 Premier League campaign underway with three points following a hard-fought 1-0 away win at Crystal Palace this afternoon.
Much had been made of West Brom's lack of transfer activity during the summer before the start of the contest, and Rondon was clearly keen to prove his worth as he met Craig Gardner's incisive cross to force a smart save from Wayne Hennessey early on.
At best the first-half offering proved to be an attritional affair, as Tony Pulis's charges sought to make the game as narrow as possible and thwart the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend out wide.
The Eagles' summer addition almost carved out a moment of inspiration before the break by picking out Connor Wickham with an impressive free kick, although the frontman was unable to find the target having flashed his header wide of goal.
Rondon's industry was arguably the standout feature of an uninspiring first period and the Venezuelan might have made Palace pay before the half-time whistle, only to be thwarted by some clever defending from Scott Dann in the centre of the box.
The home side were much improved after the break and they should have taken the lead when Zaha broke beyond the visiting defence, where he was then nullified by a standout stop from advancing keeper Ben Foster.
An afternoon of hard-pressing and defensive organisation was almost settled when Jonas Olsson rose highest inside the area, only to be denied by a leaping Hennessey.
Alan Pardew decided to introduce Yannick Bolasie in an attempt to push his side forward, but it was an away substitute in the shape of James McClean who proved the difference.
Having needlessly given away a free kick over on the right-hand side of the pitch, Palace fell prey to a whipped delivery from McClean, who was able to find a willing Rondon in the box, leaving the striker to send a glancing header past Hennessey in order to snatch all three points.
Christopher Dodd
