ALBION’s under-23s were unfortunate to lose 2-0 at home to Norwich City in a Premier League 2 Division Two clash at Aggborough.
New signing Ali Gabr made his first appearance in a Baggies shirt as he started alongside Sam Field and Allan Nyom, but there was nothing he could do about Norwich’s opening goal on 24 minutes as Savvas Mourgos curled in a free-kick.
And Mourgos was the right man in the right place for the away side six minutes later as he converted a rebound from close range to double their lead.
Albion thought they had equalised twice before half time as first Gabr and then Alex Bradley saw their headed goals ruled out for offside, and Nathan Ferguson also had a strong penalty shout waved away by the referee.
The Baggies dominated proceedings in the second half and went close to pulling a goal back when Finn Azaz fired a shot straight at the Norwich goalkeeper two minutes after the interval.
Gabr saw a header float just wide nine minutes later, and Sam Field’s cheeky chip didn’t quite come down in time to sneak into the far corner of the goal.
Bradley nearly found a way back into the match when his shot was saved, but Norwich managed to hold on and return to Norfolk with all three points.
ALBION: Palmer, Nyom, Gabr, Jameson, Ferguson; Bradley (McCourt 82), Azaz (E Pierce 65) Harper, Field, Leko; Morton.
Substitutes: B Pierce, Meredith, Brown.