BAGGIES GIVE ROB HIGH FIVE; Albion goal-fest to hush critics.

Byline: ANDY WALKER 

WEST BROM 5 Olsson 5 mins, Dorrans (pen) 18, Moore 49, Zuiverloon 63, Cox 68 WATFORD 0THE Baggies emphatically ended their recent blip with a five star performance at the Hawthorns. Goals for Jonas Olsson, Graham Dorrans, Luke Moore, Gianni Zuiverloon and Simon Cox ensured woeful Watford suffered a Halloween horror show yesterday afternoon.

Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo had expressed concern at his side's lack of goals in recent weeks but all the Italian's fears were lifted as they dished out this hammering.

Di Matteo handed Cox a rare start up front and opted to stick with Moore, and it turned out to be an inspired decision by the head coach.

Both got their names on the scoresheet and the duo linked up superbly all afternoon, showing promising signs of a fruitful partnership.

Di Matteo also sprung a surprise by naming forgotten man Filipe Teixeira in his line-up and the Portugese winger didn't disappoint.

This convincing victory would have come as a surprise to most bearing in mind that Albion had failed to find the net in three of their previous four fixtures.

And the result gave a surprisingly underwhelmed Di Matteo the opportunity to hit back at his side's critics.

"I'd rather win five games 1-0 than one game 5-0 because it's still only three points at the end of the day," he said.

"We had two games where we struggled to score but we created the chances.

Amazing "We are up there with the highest scoring teams so it's quite amazing we get all this criticism for it.

"We've been up there at the right end of the table all season.

"We have to try to stay there as long as we can until we get everybody back and then we will have a stronger team."

Di Matteo was pleased with the performance from his two front men and called on Cox and Moore to build on yesterday's display.

"We need our strikers to chip in with goals for us, it's important and it is vital," he said.

"We seem to share the goals between the team but the strikers need to give us more goals.

"Moore and Cox had a good game and their link-up play was good.

"It's going to boost their confidence that they managed to score one each.

"In the last couple of weeks Cox has looked sharp in training, he's looked like scoring and he scored in the reserves on Monday.

"I'm very pleased and hopefully this will be the first of many."

There were early signs of a goal-fest when the hosts opened the scoring in the fifth minute.

Dorrans floated in a free-kick from the right and Olsson drifted off his marker Craig Cathcart to nod home at the far post.

The Hornets immediately lost their sting and were guilty of handing Albion far too much space and respect all afternoon.

In the 17th minute, Moore, who looked as if he knew this was his last chance to do something worthwhile, dashed on to Olsson's long ball from the back before being tripped by Adrian Mariappa in the box - penalty given.

Dorrans stepped up and hammered home the spot-kick. Moore looked to have won the Baggies another penalty shortly after the break when he read Cox's intelligent throughball but took a tumble in the area under the challenge of keeper Scott Loach.

Yet replays showed the referee was right to hand Moore a yellow card, as the striker had gone down a fraction early.

Apart from Danny Graham missing a sitter at the other end for Watford, Albion started the second-half in the same vein and made it 3-0 in the 49th minute.

Again a clever through ball from Cox was the source and, having had his initial shot saved, Moore persisted to fire home.

Zuiverloon got in on the act in the 63rd minute.

The Dutchman drove a low shot beyond Loach to register his first of the season.

The selfless Cox deserved a goal for his performance and his 68th minute strike put the icing on the cake for the home side.

Moore chested down a long ball and Cox pounced to thump home from 20 yards.

It could have easily been six as Moore and Teixeira both went close in the final 15 minutes.

But it didn't matter as 5-0 was still the perfect tonic for Di Matteo - although he wouldn't publicly admit that.

ALBION (4-4-2) : Carson; Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Mattock; Teixeira, Dorrans, Jara, Thomas (Brunt 64); Cox, Moore. Subs not used: Kiely, Cech, Koren, Bednar, Wood, Martis.

WATFORD (4-4-2): Loach; Hodson, Mariappa, Cathcart, Doyley; Cleverley, Eustace (Severin 86), Lansbury, Harley; Cowie (Helguson 52), Graham (Ellington 64). Subs not used: Bond, Henderson, Sadler, Bryan. STAR MAN: Simon Cox

CAPTION(S):

PENALTY KING: Albion's Graham Dorrans scores from the spot HOT PURSUIT: Filipe Teixeira is surrounded by Watford shirts HIGH FIVE: Striker Simon Cox celebrates after his strike sealed Albion's rout at The Hawthorns HEADS UP: Defender Jonas Olsson rises to score the opening goal for Albion during the demolition of Watford