Joao Teixeira savoured a belated birthday celebration after his double strike delighted the Amex.

The Portuguese whizz-kid returned to goalscoring form with two crackers late in the first half of Albion’s 3-2 win at home to Ipswich last night.

Teixeira shone on his return to the side after a two-game absence and said: “I’m growing up. I was only 22 two days ago and I need to get more experience.

“I’m getting stronger, thinking quicker. That’s the most important in the game – think quick and play quick.”

Teixeira took centre stage after Sam Baldock’s early strike was cancelled out by Darryl Murphy.

Baldock admitted: “It’s a big win. We’ve not given the fans too much to shout about this season so it was nice to show them what we can do here at the Amex.

“We felt like we were threatening every time we went forward. I think that confidence went through the team.”