Josh Maja grabbed an opening day hat-trick as West Bromwich Albion got their Championship season off to a fine start with victory at Queens Park Rangers.
The Baggies striker, 25, put a difficult first campaign behind him in which he scored only once in 12 appearances with a sparkling treble as West Brom came from behind to land all three points.
His two headers and an acrobatic close-range shot proved the cutting edge of a team performance which also suggested there is no lasting hangover from last season’s play-off semi-final defeat against Southampton.
Queens Park Rangers had taken the lead after 16 minutes but were punished for some loose defending by Maja, who struck three times in 39 minutes either side of half-time.
It had been honours even at the end of a decent first half in which the visitors dominated possession but QPR carved more clear cut chances.
The hosts went in front when Lucas Andersen ghosted through a static Baggies defence to head home Rayan Kolli’s cross from the left flank.
But Maja’s first strike, rising unmarked to head home Torbjorn Heggem’s cross from the left 10 minutes later levelled matters.
Six minutes after the break Maja beat last season’s goal tally with a second header, Tom Fellows standing up a cross after some lovely work on the right byeline which the striker met to take the lead.
A third from the West Brom front man, who missed six months last season with injury, proved the body blow from which the home side could not recover.
Victory for West Brom provided a shot of light at the end of a summer in which financial restrictions have cast gloom around the Hawthorns.
QPR will take some comfort from the fact they created openings with six shots on target against decent opposition who went close to promotion last season.
