Charlie Austin scored two second-half goals to ensure West Brom picked up three points against local rivals Birmingham City this afternoon.

The 30-year-old has been restricted to substitute appearances in recent weeks but he reminded everyone of his undoubted quality at this level by changing the game at St. Andrew’s as the Baggies edged this five-goal thriller.

Pep Clotet set the hosts up with an adventurous 4-4-2 that included two out-and-out strikers and the skilful Jude Bellingham and quick Jeremie Bela down the flanks.

So, the message was clear – they weren’t scared of Albion and were ready to attack from the off. And, that’s exactly what they did, with Blues’ positive start rewarded with the opener in just the 3rd minute.

The visitors failed to clear a corner and Maxime Colin retrieved possession before putting in a tremendous cross that was met with a thunderous header from Lukas Jutkiewicz.

However, as we have come to expect from Slaven Bilic’s side, they responded quickly. Their first spell of pressure forced successive corners and the second one came out to Matt Phillips who fired across goal for Grady Diangana to turn home.

Despite the electric start, the chances dried up for the next 20 minutes or so, although Blues maintained the frenetic pressing that helped them disrupt the visitors.

As the half progressed though, Albion began to come back into it – helped by the dangerous Matt Phillips.

He instigated a break away that left the Baggies three-on-one at one stage but a combination of his weak pass and Diangana’s poor touch saw the chance disappear quickly.

Moments later the ex-Crystal Palace man put in a wicked delivery but Hal Robson-Kanu’s glancing header drifted past the far post.

A hamstring injury to Diangana was a real blow for Albion and he was replaced by Kyle Edwards and it impacted the visitors who lost control for the final minutes of the half – and they really should’ve gone in a goal down.

Bellingham picked up the ball after a set-piece was cleared and he found Kristian Pedersen with a tremendous pass that put the full-back through on goal. The Dane lacked conviction though and his close range effort was well stopped by Johnstone who made himself big.

No doubt encouraged by their first-half display, Blues began the second period positively as well and once again their early pressure brought a goal.

A corner from Bellingham was met by Harlee Dean at the back post and his header somehow found the back of the net.

Johnstone will no doubt he unhappy with how he was beaten but replays showed he was not helped by Nathan Ferguson jumping in front of him.

The game was now being played at a high tempo and the tackles were flying in – just as you’d want in a local derby. First Jake Livermore was cautioned for a scything tackle before Ivan Sunjic joined him in the book for a crude foul on Matheus Pereira.

With Albion looking pretty poor at this stage, Bilic turned to his bench, bringing Austin on for Phillips and it was an inspired decision.

The striker had been on the pitch a matter of minutes before he drew his side level with a marvellous goal. A neat bit of play saw the ball worked to Austin on the edge of the box and he took a touch before turning and firing a fantastic shot past Connal Trueman.

Albion had the momentum now, although Blues remained a threat, particularly from set-plays and Jutkiewicz headed over a half chance.

And, they were soon made to pay for that, with Austin once again making the difference.

Fellow substitute Darnell Furlong, who had earlier come on for Conor Townsend, was given far too much space down the right-flank and he chipped a cross to the back post that found the unmarked ex-Southampton man who clinically headed home.

That set up a frantic finale and Blues were causing problems from Geraldo Bajrami’s long throws in particular, with Bela wasting a good chance after one wasn’t cleared.

But, that’s as close as the hosts got as Albion held on to pick up yet another win.