Plenty has changed at Upton Park in the last 12 months but the constant that remains going forward is the goal-threat of striker Sakho - who shone in this 3-0 win played just 39 days since the end of both the previous Premier League season and Sam Allardyce's reign in east London.
The 25-year-old joined the club last year and, despite ending the season on the treatment table, he finished the campaign with 10 league goals - by far the best offering from anyone in claret and blue.
It was that late thigh injury that meant Sakho lined up for the Hammers in this contest, as a number of fresher players selected by academy manager Terry Westley, who was in charge as new boss Bilic opted to watch from the stands after receiving a heroes' welcome before kick-off.
And the Croatian saw Sakho score twice in the five minutes before half-time, with skipper for the evening James Tomkins heading a third against the Primera Divisio minnows.
Sakho was not the only first-team regular involved as Tomkins captained a side which also contained Joey O'Brien, Morgan Amalfitano, Matt Jarvis and Mauro Zarate - back in the fold after ending last season on loan at QPR - but did not boast big-name summer signings Pedro Obiang or Dimitri Payet.
New recruit Darren Randolph started in goal however, Reece Oxford was arguably the main attraction for the sold-out Upton Park crowd, the 16-year-old becoming the youngest first-team player in the club's history.
Source : PA
Source: PA