ALBION’s under-23s drew 1-1 with Aston Villa in a Premier League 2 Division Two clash at Aggborough.
A number of senior players joined up with Jamie Smith’s side for the fixture to get 90 minutes under their belt, and they played a big part in creating and scoring the opening goal inside seven minutes.
Oliver Burke picked up the ball in the middle of the park before going on a surging run, laying the ball out wide for Wes Hoolahan to whip in a superb cross which Hal Robson-Kanu made no mistake in lashing home.
Villa tested Jonathan Bond a number of times soon after and went closest to finding the back of the net when Jordan Cox’s shot from range curled just wide.
The Baggies could have extended their lead before the break when more quick build-up play found Robson-Kanu again - though the forward could only strike into the hands of Matija Sarkic.
After half-time both sides initially struggled to create any clear-cut chances, with Hoolahan sparking the game into life on 75 minutes after he was unfortunate not to double Albion’s lead with a good run and shot that couldn’t quite sneak in at the near post.
Instead it was Villa that scored the second of the game with just 13 minutes left as Cox slotted a composed finish past Jonathan Bond.
The home side pushed forward to try and find a winner as the game drew to a close, but in the end the pressure came to nothing and the points were shared.
ALBION: Bond, Ferguson, Howkins, Field; Mears, Edwards, Hoolahan, Harper, Leko; Burke, Robson-Kanu.
Substitutes: Keranovic, Meredith, Wilding, Clayton-Phillips, Morton.