FILIPE Teixeira enjoyed a dream Baggies debut as his two-goal burst set up a stylish Sixfields win.

The £600,000 new boy lit up Albion's fourth pre-season friendly with a 35^th-minute stunner, which was sandwiched by Mark Bunn and Mark Hughes own goals to give Tony Mowbray's men a 3-0 half-time cushion.

The ex-PSG midfielder sealed a satisfying first outing in a blue-and-white striped shirt by adding a 67^th-minute tap-in.

Fit-again Kevin Phillips celebrated his 34^th birthday by opening his pre-season account less than 60 seconds later before Ian Henderson bagged a 77^th-minute consolation for the League One outfit.

It was no less than Albion deserved as their preparations for the new season really began to take shape.

The visitors, still unbeaten in pre-season, moved the ball around the park with real purpose and displayed the kind of cutting edge which yielded 100 goals in all competitions last term.

Teixeira was handed an immediate debut after completing his switch from Portuguese top-flight side Academica de Coimbra last week, being deployed in an attacking central-midfield role.

Beira Mar defender Tininho, who has joined Albion for a few days' training and faced Teixeira in I Divisao last season, started at left-back.

Phillips also returned to Mowbray's XI after recovering from a tight hamstring while former Baggie James Quinn was named among the Cobblers subs.

This was the first leg of Northampton's Black Country double-header, with Wolves due at Sixfields for a friendly on Tuesday.

Albion started positively and recorded the game's first effort on goal in the third minute following a short corner.

Zoltan Gera headed down the impressive Jonathan Greening's deep cross but Curtis Davies could only scuff an awkward half-volley straight at keeper Bunn.

A slick-passing move created another opening eight minutes later.

The influential Phillips rose highest to meet the overlapping Jared Hodgkiss' fine centre but his fierce header flew straight at Bunn.

Albion didn't have to wait too much longer to break the deadlock - in slightly fortuitous circumstances.

In the 14^th minute, Greening latched onto a loose ball and unleashed a terrific 20-yard drive.

The ball flew past Bunn's outstretched arm and smashed the far post before ricocheting off the Northampton No.1's back and creeping over the line.

Kiely had so far been untested and had little trouble in collecting Town forward Henderson's tame 30-yard effort.

Moments later, the Baggies No.1 was able to watch midfielder Bradley Johnson's ferocious 20-yard free-kick fly just over his bar.

Great link-up play between Tininho and Craig Beattie saw the former race to the byline and only Danny Jackman's goalline clearance prevented Phillips tapping home his low centre.

Seconds later, Beattie beat his man on the edge of the box and curled a right-footed effort just past the far post.

Town, who finished 14^th last season, then launched a rare attack of their own but sub Sam Aiston could only shoot weakly at Kiely from 20 yards.

Albion continued to look dangerous and Bunn had to pull off an acrobatic block to divert Phillips' snapshot inches past his far post from Hodgkiss' fine reverse pass.

From Greening's ensuing corner, the ex-Sunderland marksman could only direct a free header straight at the Cobblers keeper.

But Albion earned the two-goal cushion their dominance had deserved in the 35^th minute - and it was worth the wait.

Gera laid back Tininho's low centre to Teixeira and the 26-year-old beat Bunn all ends up with a first-time, right-footed curler from 20 yards which flew in off the underside of the bar.

Three minutes before the break, it was 3-0.

A flowing Baggies move which had started on the edge of their own penalty area resulted in luckless Town defender Hughes spectacularly heading Gera's whipped right-wing cross into his own net.

Teixeira was at it again moments later when he dragged a 20-yard exocet just wide of the far post.

Albion picked up from where they left off after the break when Phillips cleverly created room for a shot 20 yards out before drilling the ball straight down Bunn's throat.

Workaholic Koren's pinpoint pass then sent Beattie racing clear down the right. The ex-Celtic man held off his marker as he charged into the box before firing just the wrong side of Bunn's near post.

Kiely had enjoyed a quiet night but displayed all of his professionalism in producing a wonderful one-handed save to divert Johnson's 20-yard missile over his bar.

The action swung to the other end and it was the ex-Ireland international's opposite number Bunn's turn to show great alertness, rushing to the edge of his penalty area to bravely block at the feet of Beattie as he attempted to reach Greening's throughball.

But Albion well and truly wrapped up their first pre-season win with two goals in a minute.

Teixeiria was first to react after Bunn could only parry Greening's long-range 67^th-minute rocket and the Paris-born maestro coolly slotted home in front of the jubilant 589-travelling Baggies fans.

Less than 60 seconds later, Beattie fed Tininho down the left whose excellent centre was slid home by Phillips at the far post.

Northampton, who had extended their unbeaten pre-season run to four games by holding Championship side Coventry on Saturday, pulled one back in the 77^th minute.

Henderson collected Jackman's square ball and fired into the bottom left-hand corner from just inside the box.

But Albion hit straight back and Phillips wasn't too far away with a free header from another excellent Tininho centre.

The Baggies didn't let up during the closing stages as Mowbray's starting XI all got a vital 90-minute workout under their belts.

NORTHAMPTON (4-4-2): Bunn; Crowe (May 75), Dolman, Hughes, Jackman; Henderson, Johnson, Burnell (Dyer 80), Holt; Larkin (Gilligan 64), Kirk (Aiston 14). Subs not used: Dunn, Quinn, Howe, Haines.

ALBION (4-4-2): Kiely; Hodgkiss, Martis, Davies, Tininho; Gera, Koren, Teixeira, Greening; Beattie, Phillips. Subs not used: Daniels (gk), Worrall, Labadie, Manchester, Nardiello, Nicholson.

GOALS: NORTHAMPTON - Henderson (77). ALBION - Bunn (14 og), Teixeira (35 & 67), Hughes (42 og), Phillips (68).

BOOKINGS: None.

REFEREE: P Walton (Northamptonshire).

ATTENDANCE: 1,949 (589 Albion fans).

ALBION STARMAN: Robert Koren.

PIC: OFF TO A FLYER...Teixeira in action at Northampton