Albion U21 1 Southampton U21 3

ALBION suffered their first defeat since September as Southampton recorded a 3-1 Barclays U21 Premier League victory at the club’s training ground this afternoon.

The Baggies led through an early Aaron Birch wonder strike - but a Sam Gallagher brace, followed by a penalty from Scott Sinclair’s brother Jake, secured all three points for the visitors.

Scott was joined by his parents on the sidelines as birthday-boy Jake helped the Saints earn their first win in three matches. 

19-year-old Sinclair had the first opportunity of the game – but saw his seventh-minute strike tipped over the bar by Jack Rose.

Birch put Albion ahead ten minutes later.

The 18-year-old midfielder carried the ball towards goal before powering a right-foot thunderbolt into the top corner from 25 yards.

The visitors were level on 27 courtesy of a tidy Gallagher finish.

The big centre-forward smashed the ball home from close range after Ryan Seager provided an inch-perfect low cross.

Mani O’Sullivan’s 25-yard free-kick was comfortably gathered by Cody Cropper on 33 and the two sides went into the interval on a level pegging.

David Oldfield’s team began the second-half brightly and could have gone ahead in the 54th minute.

Wes Atkinson’s powerful cross from the left wing struck Birch in the six-yard box and floated just over the bar.

Rose was on hand to keep it 1-1 two minutes later as he palmed a Sinclair drive wide of the left-hand post from just outside the D. 

The young keeper was called into action again on 62.

But Andy Robinson’s weak long-range strike failed to cause Rose too many problems. 

The Saints continued to press and Rose could only parry Harry Reed’s effort moments later.

Southampton took a 73rd-minute lead as Gallagher netted his second.

The striker outleaped Albion’s defence to head Sinclair’s corner inside the left-hand post.

Both sides continued to try their luck from distance in blustery conditions. 

But Rose was up to the challenge and again parried when Robinson rifled another long-distance strike at goal on 78.

Sinclair rounded off a fine performance with a goal nine minutes from time.

The winger converted from the penalty spot after Shaun Donnellan was judged to have brought down Robinson.