James Ward-Prowse scores twice as Southampton beat West Brom

Southampton rediscovered their goalscoring touch on the day they signed Charlie Austin by thumping West Brom 3-0.

Saints splashed out £4 million to land striker Austin from QPR on Saturday morning in a bid to pep up their misfiring attack.

And just a couple of hours later Austin watched from the stands as James Ward-Prowse scored twice before Dusan Tadic wrapped up a comfortable victory.

England Under-21 midfielder Ward-Prowse was an unlikely goal hero, having previously scored just once in the Premier League.

But he doubled that tally with just five minutes on the clock after Craig Dawson fouled Saido Mane on the corner of the penalty area.

Ward-Prowse curled the free-kick up and over the wall, his effort beating Baggies goalkeeper Boaz Myhill far too easily as it flew into the top corner.

West Brom, who came from behind twice to draw at Chelsea in midweek, had chances to equalise but Craig Gardner headed James McClean's cross wide and blazed another chance over.

Yet Saints looked dangerous every time they attacked and Myhill kept out a Shane Long drive, although the keeper was grateful to Claudio Yacob for hacking the ball clear after making a mess of a corner.

And in the 33rd minute the hosts' pressure told with Dawson again the guilty party, although the defender was perhaps unlucky that his collision with Matt Targett in the area was adjudged to be a foul.

Nevertheless, with regular penalty taker Tadic on the bench, Ward-Prowse did the honours with a coolly taken spot-kick which sent Myhill the wrong way.

Saints would have been home and hosed by half-time but for a goal-line clearance by McClean from Targett's low drive.

Frustrated Albion boss Tony Pulis made a double change at the break, sending on Chris Brunt and Salomon Rondon, but Southampton continued to create the better chances.

Austin will have been licking his lips at the prospect of getting on the end of some of them, not least when Long sent Mane clean through only for the frontman to shank his shot across Myhill and wide of the far post.

Tadic was introduced from the bench shortly after the hour mark and got on the scoresheet just eight minutes later, finishing with an angled snap-shot after he was played into the area by Steven Davis.

With victory assured, Southampton fans began serenading their former hero Rickie Lambert, who must have been wondering why he ever left the club he could not stop scoring for just to end up sat on the bench at West Brom.

Saints will be hoping they have just snapped up a new goalscoring talisman in the shape of Austin.