West Brom 3-2 West Ham

West Brom won their first match of the season and left new West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola with lots to analyse after he had watched from the stands.

James Morrison headed the Baggies ahead before Mark Noble tapped in a rebound from David Di Michele's header.

West Ham took the lead when Lucas Neill volleyed in from close-range before Roman Bednar levelled with a penalty.

A draw looked likely but Chris Brunt scored a late winner to hand Zola a unfriendly welcome to club management.

The Baggies victory prevented them from recording their worst start to a Premier League season while also inflicting a worst possible start to Zola's reign.

But for long spells it seemed West Brom would not take advantage of a poor Hammers defence which must have given Zola reason to be worried.

The Italian, who officially takes charge of the team from Monday, will also be concerned about his attacking options after Dean Ashton was forced off through injury early on.

However, Ashton's replacement David Di Michele showed glimpses of his ability and was instrumental in dragging his side back into the game when they looked in danger of being over-run.

Morrison had already put West Brom ahead when he was allowed acres of space in the box and Robert Koren had missed an one-one with Robert Green, before Di Michele rose to nod goalwards and Noble tucked in the rebound to restore parity.

West Brom, led by midfielder Borja Valero, had bossed the game until that point and had wasted numerous chances to build a greater advantage.

But West Ham's equaliser stunned them and soon they found themselves behind when they failed to defend a corner, allowing Matthew Upson to head back across goal for Neill to finish smartly.

It provoked a half-smile from Zola but his new were about to show the defensive frailties that the former Chelsea striker would have exploited with relish in his playing days.

The unmarked Leon Barnett put pressure on Green, who fumbled and then tripped the Baggies man, leaving Bednar to demonstrate perfect penalty technique.

After such an incredibly open first half, it was always likely to be a tighter contest after the break and so it proved.

Chances were now at a premium, as the midfield became congested and players scrapped for possession.

Bednar had a shot blocked and Barnett directed a header wide, while West Ham's attacking threat had virtually disappeared.

Yet there was to be one last twist, when Brunt raced on to a long ball and fired accurately into the bottom right corner to snatch a;; three points.

Scott Parker should have equalised in injury-time but was denied by Carson at close range.

Zola will now be under no illusions as to the size of the task ahead of him. while West Brom have finally earned some breathing space and move off the bottom of the table.