Graham Potter said “goals change games” after his side humbled Newcastle.

It’s an old but very true theory. Which means two quick goals REALLY change games.

In Albion’s case, two in the first seven minutes sent them to a 3-0 win at St James’ Park and set the tone for a highly dominant performance.

And that ability to turn good football into reward might just have made this Albion’s best performance on the road in the top flight.

It is certainly up there with 3-0s at Watford and West Ham in the Premier League.

They also had a 3-0 win at Selhurst Park on the way to escaping relegation late in the 1980-81 season.

And, if you want to go right back, how do you compare a dominant afternoon on Tyneside in 2020 with a magnificently scrambled 1-0 at seemingly invincible Nottingham Forest in 1979?

Albion’s finest away performance? That’s a big call and a tough comparison to make.

Comparing successive away games at Newcastle, which Potter did in his post-match Zoom webinar, is not hard at all.

It’s about end product, finishing. In a couple of incidents, it’s about centimetres or even millimetres.

Albion secured a 3-0 win which might have been more at a venue where they drew 0-0 last season.

“Comfortable? It’s never comfortable - trust me,” Potter said on Sunday.

“It never feels comfortable. The goals at the start helped us and put the opposition on the back foot.

“Goals change games. We played quite well here last year but we didn’t carry enough of the threat we need to.

“Today we had more of a threat and, if you score, it changes the complexion. The scoreline feels better.

“But you always have to survive moments, you always need to keep working and I thought the boys did that really well.”

The only “moment” on Sunday was when Callum Wilson headed over from close range.

In other times, that goes in, the noise from Gallowgate End swells and Albion are on the back foot.

It was put to Potter that Albion’s response to that lapse was impressive.

Rather than encourage Newcastle, that chance seemed to galvanise the Seagulls.

They retook their guard, refocussed and ultimately put the outcome beyond doubt as they kicked on again.

But the head coach’s comparison with last season at St James’ Park was a valid one. Look at the numbers.

Last season, Albion had 16 goals attempts. This season it was ‘only’ 13.

Last season they had 71% possession compared to 53% this time.

Last season their pass completion was 88% against 81% on Sunday.

But then last season Aaron Connolly saw his lob cleared when nine-tenths of the ball had crossed the line.

Last time round, Steven Alzate was a stride offside when he headed in whereas this time Leandro Trossard was just onside when he set up Neal Maupay.

Last season Maupay failed to convert a one-on-one after a move every bit as good as anything we saw on Sunday.

Albion learned how to get the reward they deserved for their football when they came back from lockdown in the tail end of last season.

The talk after defeat by Chelsea eight days ago was to do the same.

Maybe it is a case of the top teams knowing how to not let you get that full reward.

Having the individual quality to produce a moment of magic.

Against teams other than Liverpool, Chelsea and the Manchester clubs, Albion have taken 15 points from seven games since lockdown.

They are getting the rewards against all but the very best.

And then there is another difference, the presence of a flying machine on the right.

Of course Tariq Lamptey is a game-changer. Using him well, making the right spaces and playing the right passes, makes a huge difference.

Without his exploits, those early goals would not have happened.

There were lots of questions about him and plenty of answers from Potter.

He added: “As a team I thought we carried a threat. Neal and Aaron scored two and one.

“Leo Trossard supporting them I thought was good.

“The two midfielders (Alzate and Yves Bissouma) and Solly March on the left.

“It was quite a balanced attacking performance from the team and we managed to restrict Newcastle to not too much.

“Although in any game you have to survive a moment or get a bit of luck.”

Albion received plenty of nice comments after the defeat to Chelsea, but they don’t get you up the table.

Did they feel had a point to prove at Newcastle?

Potter said: “I think the start was a reflection of the week we had had.

“The boys had been itching to play. They responded well against Portsmouth and then put in another performance.

“I wouldn’t say a point to prove but we know we are in this game to get results.

“There was a lot we did well against Chelsea.

“They are a very good team with lots of good players and for large periods I thought we were the better team.

“But, when you don’t win, you have got to take that and make sure on the next game you try and turn the performance into a result.”