ALBION’s under-23s were defeated 2-1 at Middlesbrough in their penultimate Premier League 2 Division Two match of the season on Sunday.
It was the Baggies who opened the scoring inside 11 minutes when Kyle Jameson was on hand to apply the finishing touches after Jonathan Leko had hit the woodwork.
Middlesbrough were thwarted from getting themselves back into the game straight away when Brad House saved from Luke Armstrong’s effort.
Albion then went close themselves as Jonathan Leko could have doubled the lead when left unmarked at the back post, but he elected to hit the ball across the box instead of towards goal.
Early in the second half Nick Clayton-Phillips was denied by Dimi Konstantopoulos from the edge of the area, but not long after Boro equalised through Armstrong’s low shot just before the hour mark.
With 63 minutes on the clock the turnaround was complete as substitute Connor Malley headed the home side in front from a corner.
The Baggies found clear-cut chances difficult to come by after falling behind, with Middlesbrough going on to claim all three points in a hard-fought game at the Riverside Stadium.
ALBION: House, Meredith, Jameson, Ferguson, McCourt, Harmon; Bradley (Azaz 87), Harper; Clayton-Phillips (Pierce 78), Morton, Leko.
Substitutes: B Pierce, Wilding, Brown.