Darren Carter's winner, Curtis Davies' return from injury and Tomas Kuszczak's first game since the World Cup finals were just a few of the positives to come out of West Bromwich Albion's pre-season victory at Bristol Rovers.
The visitors were made to fight for their 1-0 win at the Memorial Stadium but left satisfied as Davies was introduced as a second-half substitute following his early recovery from groin injury and Zoltan Gera turned in a bright performance despite speculation surrounding his future.
For the hour he was on the pitch the Hungarian operated as a striker with youngster Rob Elvins and was at the heart of many of Albion's best moments.
But in a game dominated by the brilliance of the two goal-keepers, Kuszczak and Scott Shearer, the Championship club eventually made the breakthrough two minutes before the end. Triallist Michael Nardiello centred for Carter to claim the winner to cap his industrious display.
Things have been equally busy off the pitch with Albion rejecting a second, unspecified, bid from Manchester United for Kuszczak and escalating their war of words with Cardiff City.
Albion have said that if they are to part with the 24-year-old Poland keeper, they want cash plus two players, one on loan and one on a permanent deal.
"United know the position," said manager Bryan Robson. "They have made us an offer but it is not what we want so that is still not a deal at this moment in time. It all depends on United now."
Their relationship with Cardiff is even worse after the Welsh club issued a statement accusing Albion of being unfair and even inhumane in their treatment of Jason Koumas.
After falling out with Robson, the midfielder spent most of last season on loan at Ninian Park and had hoped to make the transfer permanent this summer.
But for the time being at least Albion are still Koumas' employers and given his failure to return for pre-season they have fined him and stopped paying his wages.
Cardiff made a £2 million bid for Koumas which was not structured to Albion's liking - a fact that drew a tetchy response from chairman Jeremy Peace on Monday.
City responded in similarly annoyed fashion and openly questioned West Brom's stance. "Cardiff City FC believes that WBA are taking a very hard and unreasonable stance in the transfer saga of their player Jason Koumas," their statement read.
"One has to ask if WBA's stance is reasonable? All one can say is that Cardiff have done the impossible to get Jason and feel that WBA should reconsider their position both from a financial angle, a practical angle and more importantly a humane angle. Yes they are all powerful legally, but are they being fair?"
Not to be deprived of the last word Albion replied on their website. "The club have noted what we can only describe as a bizarre statement on Cardiff City's official website regard-ing their interest in Jason Koumas.
"Our position has been very clear since Jason joined Cardiff on loan a year ago. Unless Cardiff meet our required terms, he will not join them on a permanent basis.
"Meanwhile, we quite prop-erly expect Jason to meet the obligations of his contract, for which he is handsomely paid.
"We therefore take great exception to Cardiff's suggestion that we are not acting in a 'humane' manner, particularly given that the club have gone out of their way in attempts to reintegrate Jason back into the squad.
"Cardiff have commented on several sensitive issues regarding Jason's situation which, while he remains an Albion player, are, quite frankly, none of their business."
On a positive note defender Paul Robinson, who was last season talked about in connection with an England call-up, has signed a new contract.
The left-back was agreed to stay at The Hawthorns for another three years thereby ending speculation that he would return to Premiership side Watford.
"It is excellent news," said Robson. "Paul's the type of player we want at the club. He's a good character around the place and an excellent trainer with a great attitude."
