Isaac Price's 15th-minute goal earned West Bromwich Albion a 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers and ensured Ryan Mason's first competitive match as permanent head coach ended with three points and a clean sheet at The Hawthorns.
In a meeting of two sides separated by only two points and two places in last season's Championship table, Albion were the sharper team for long spells, carving out the better chances through Price and debutant Aune Heggebo before having to dig in after Darnell Furlong's late red card triggered a frantic finale.
Price At The Heart Of Albion's Fast Start
Mason handed a start to 21-year-old attacking midfielder Price, who arrived from Standard Liege in January and has since exploded onto the international scene with Northern Ireland, scoring seven times in his last seven caps.