Lee Bowyer taught West Bromwich Albion the first of many harsh Premiership lessons to come as The Hawthorns' return to the top flight after a 16-year absence quickly turned sour.

The visitors emerged unscathed from large swathes of early Albion possession and Bowyer starred in an ultimately comfortable victory for quality over quantity.

The midfielder - who is still refusing to sign an extension to his current contract - stole the show by finishing off a magnificent three-man move in style to grab Leeds' second goal in the 52nd minute.

Harry Kewell back-heeled Alan Smith's through-ball into Bowyer's path and he rammed a rising shot into Russell Hoult's top corner to seal his side's second consecutive three-point haul.

Kewell had set Leeds on their way in the 39th minute when Albion's defence went to sleep and allowed Danny Mills to steal down the right flank unnoticed and provide the simplest of chances for the similarly unmarked Australian.

Bowyer played a part in Leeds' third when his cross from wide on the right found Mark Viduka who dribbled around Hoult before knocking the ball into an empty net.

Lee Marshall's last-minute consolation for Albion at least ensured The Hawthorns' Premiership return was marked by a home goal.

Albion's first-half domination will come as scant consolation to boss Gary Megson, who knows he needs to complete the re-signing of striker Lee Hughes as a matter of urgency.

Jason Roberts and Scott Dobie wasted too many opportunities in front of goal and in the end that cost the home side dear.

Dobie hit a weak shot at Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson in the second minute after doing all the hard work by beating Jonathan Woodgate.

Derek McInnes scooped a ninth-minute effort over the crossbar after Woodgate blocked another Dobie chance, but the best early opportunity fell to wantaway midfielder Andy Johnson.

The Wales international will have nightmares about his 17th-minute miss when he latched onto a half-clearance from Dobie's good work down the right and sidefooted the simplest of chances wide of Robinson's left-hand post.

Roberts also sidefooted a good chance over the crossbar before Bowyer was guilty of a similarly shocking miss when Kewell wrong-footed the onrushing Hoult only for Bowyer to loft wide his shot towards an empty net.

The difference was that Bowyer made up for his error in the second half and Albion took little heed of that first Leeds warning.

They had failed to capitalise on some sluggish defending from the visitors early on as Roberts and particularly Igor Balis down the right caused problems.

When Kewell knocked home the opener it was clear the home side had missed their chance to welcome back Premiership football to The Hawthorns in headline-making fashion.

Leeds settled down after their third and sat back, giving Albion - who responded by replacing injured central defender Darren Moore with striker Daniele Dichio - another chance to push forward.

But despite the urgings of their vociferous supporters they could make no more inroads and it was Leeds who always looked more likely to add to their score until Marshall snatched his opportunity to get round the back of the Leeds defence and sidefoot home in the 89th minute.

Consecutive defeats in their first two matches have hardly got the alarm bells ringing for Megson but he knows that new blood is vital if his team are to avoid being cut adrift.

Terry Venables' Leeds, meanwhile, have six points under their belts and already have their eyes on much higher things.

Teams

West Brom: Hoult, Moore (Dichio 60), Gilchrist, Sigurdsson, Balis, Clement, McInnes (Wallwork 73), Johnson (Marshall 73), Gregan, Dobie, Roberts.

Subs Not Used: Jensen, Taylor.

Booked: Sigurdsson.

Goals: Marshall 90.

Leeds: Robinson, Mills, Woodgate (Radebe 61), Matteo, Harte, Bowyer, Bakke, Barmby, Kewell (Keane 82), Viduka, Smith.

Subs Not Used: Martyn, Kelly, Dacourt.

Booked: Woodgate.

Goals: Kewell 39, Bowyer 52, Viduka 70.

Att: 26,618

Ref: S Dunn