Lewis Cox's West Brom analysis: Ryan Mason has every reason to be satisfied with week one

His Albion team have pocketed six points from the six on offer. They exited the EFL Cup on penalties, a blot on the copybook - with the performance the head coach was most pleased with.

To start any season on a positive footing is welcome, but for a new rookie head coach to achieve as much is just the ticket for the Baggies.

It means precious little to the outcome of the season - Albion led the way unbeaten from six to start last time out and slumped to a miserable ending - but a winning start after change has settled the nerves and cranked up the encouragement.

The optimistic thing here is that the club are at the start of their journey with Mason.

It is only three games yet Albion look well-drilled. They look well-coached, look to be understanding what is asked of them and look physically fit. Better still, on this occasion, Mason's in-game changes made the difference.

His side were deserving of their victory in north Wales in the first league meeting between the Baggies and Wrexham. To banish the horrific away blues from last season is a significant early milestone.

Albion were dealt a rough hand by the fixture computer coming out as the first Championship visitors to The Racecourse this season.

There was an obvious swell of publicity and goodwill for the home side. Even your Average Joe in the street is a Wrexham fan nowadays thanks to Disney+. Not content with just the Sky Sports cameras, ITV even rocked up with dreams of the latest Hollywood fairytale to provide free-to-air viewing.

Wrexham have been incredible to secure three promotions on the spin but this step is a significant one for Phil Parkinson's side. The Red Dragons had a go, credit to them, but Albion were better all over the pitch for the most part and deserved to win. 

The hosts, broadcasters and many neutrals hoping for a scene of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney euphorically triumphant at a plucky victory come full-time were left disappointed.

There was celebration from an American ownership at the world's oldest international football stadium - but it was led by the Patel family, as chairman Shilen and his cousin Ashish delightedly rejoiced with the away end after the final whistle.

The Baggies' owner answered supporters' requests to 'start the boing' - Shilen did so with a powerful clenched fist full of meaning.

This watchable 3-2 success, like the 1-0 victory over Blackburn seven days earlier, was spearheaded and decided by man of the moment Isaac Price.

He made it three goals in two league games to underline his influence on the team. Price, not 22 until next month, made a huge impact when he arrived in January. He has gone up a gear.

Formerly of Everton's academy but having decided to chance his arm overseas in Belgium with Standard Liege, top clubs will already be aware of the Northern Ireland international. He is making suitors sit up and take note.

Price did not win this one on his own, though. His first, the opener, was expertly tucked in from Tom Fellows' fine low cross. Fellows was electric down the right and his side's biggest threat for the most part.

But the Baggies were sloppy to give away their deserved lead just before half-time with some rare defensive teething problems allowing Lewis O'Brien in.

From there, for around half hour of the second period, things were fairly even. Wrexham supporters grew in confidence having seen their side forge a couple of chances.

But a calculated decision by Mason - or two - swung it back in the favour of the visitors.

He opted to introduce Jed Wallace and Mikey Johnston for complete change out wide with Fellows, who had been so bright, and Karlan Grant withdrawn.

Many scratched their heads and wondered why. Within 28 seconds they had their answer.

Johnston, from a central position, picked out Wallace on the left side of the box and the club captain crashed a left-footed strike through Danny Ward at the goalkeeper's near post. It was a poor error but Wallace's strike was too hot to handle.

His celebration was one of pent-up emotion and real determination. It meant a lot.

Five minutes later and Johnston was at it again. This assist showed his undoubted quality as he curled in a sumptuous cross for Price, six yards out, to plant a firm header beyond Ward.

The game was won thanks to Mason's changes. It will not always go like that with substitutions - as the head coach acknowledged - but in that moment he had the Midas touch.

Just a third ever competitive clash at Wrexham and first since 1971 in the lesser-known Watney Cup will live in the memory for those fortunate 1,200 travelling Baggies.

It will do likewise for Shilen and Ashish Patel, too, who felt the delight of Baggies enjoying a rare away win - a first since last November.

These are encouraging early steps forward.

Mason cut a very satisfied figure afterwards. He has a lot to like from the first week of the season.