Blondes, they say have more fun, and more ambition too and that would certainly ring true at The Hawthorns where Kevin Phillips and team-mate Paul Robinson both emerged on the pitch against Ipswich Town with a definite hint of peroxide added to their shaved barnets.

And it appears the newly coiffured look is here to stay.

Both men played head-turning roles in Albion's 4-0 victory over the Tractor Boys although the score - like the hairstyle - somewhat flattered a Baggies side which was under pressure for long spells in the second half.

Albion manager Tony Mowbray made two changes from the side who won at home to Barnsley, giving full debuts to striker Ishmael Miller and £3 million signing Chris Brunt in place of Scotland striker Craig Beattie and Hungarian Zoltan Gera, who had both endured tiring trips on international duty during the week.

And it seemed the changes upset Albion's balance for the opening spell - it was some five minutes before Albion began to compose themselves, Phillips heading just wide from Carl Hoefkins' cross.

Ipswich did have the odd chance with David Walters - his head heavily bandaged after a collision with Dean Kiely - finding Alan Lee free but his shot went just wide.

Play began to flow steadily towards the visitors' goal and the fans were beginning to sense a goal would come but again Albion were thwarted when Phillips and Filipe Teixeria got tangled up as they tried to get on the end of a tempting Brunt pass.

The lead was only temporarily delayed, Miller benefiting from some excellent work by the diminutive Portuguese midfielder and beating two defenders before sending Neil Alexander the wrong way.

The rest of the half was largely a procession towards Alexander's goal, but chance after chance went begging due to poor finishing with Teixeira guilty of missing two opportunities.

In the second half Ipswich came out all guns blazing - no doubt manager Jim Magilton's half-time team talk having had some effect.

Striker Pablo Counago was first to strike, drawing a save from Kiely and the build-up in pressure forced Mowbray to reconsider his formation, replacing James Morrison with Robert Koren.

Still Ipswich pressed, Alan Lee's thunderbolt rattling back off the inside of Kiely's post and as the Tractor Boys valiantly continued their quest for an equaliser, Albion looked like they would have a job to cling on to the three points.

Nerves were finally calmed when the Baggies scored thrice in the dying minutes. Robinson found Teixeira free in the 87th minute and he made no mistake in firing home.

Moments later, Phillips popped up on the end of a Teixeira cross to make it 3-0 and as the fourth official signalled the last few moments of additional time, Phillips pounced again to rub salt in Ipswich wounds.

Phillips, speaking after the game about his blond locks, said: "I just did it for a change. I first did it in the summer and quite liked it. Robbo's copied me!

"My wife Julie did both our hair after a couple of drinks at a barbecue. To be fair the kids were egging us on as well!

"I think we are probably going to keep it now after that result so we'll probably have to dye it again tomorrow!"

Phillips also paid tribute to his team-mate and fellow blond for settling back in at The Hawthorns.

He said: "I am pleased Robbo's has stayed because I would have had no-one else to die my hair with!

"We're big mates and I've known him for years. We're all delighted he's stayed here because when you've got a player like Paul Robinson it puts fear into other teams.

"Not just that but he's a great footballer as he showed by setting up two of the goals."