Albion Under-23s exited the Premier League Cup at the group stage after a 1-0 loss to Burnley Under-23s.
Dan Agyei put the hosts ahead within the first two minutes, scoring the goal that proved to be the difference, as Burnley leapfrogged the Baggies in Premier League Cup Group C to progress to the knockout stages.
Albion searched for a way back into the game in the second-half but despite having several chances succumbed to a defeat at Curzon Ashton’s Tameside Stadium.
The Clarets started the brighter of the two sides, with their opening goal coming almost immediately.
Tunde Bayode made progress down the flank before whipping a searching cross into the box that was met by Dan Agyei, who swept his effort past Alex Palmer in the Albion net.
In a half of few chances, a Morgan Rogers effort was deflected into the welcoming arms of Adam Legzdins before Jonathan Leko stung the goalkeeper's gloves with a powerful drive.
After the restart Rayhaan Tulloch went close on two occasions for the Baggies, with Smith’s side in the ascendency.
A flurry of halfchances followed; Finn Azaz dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box, Leko fired a long range effort just wide and Tulloch fizzed an outside-of-the-boot attempt over the bar.
But the hosts held strong and with the time running out for the Baggies, the chances dried up.
The hosts went close once more at the end through Agyei, but Palmer was equal to it.
ALBION: Palmer; Ferguson, Solanke, Healy; Gardner-Hickman, Rogers, Azaz, Melbourne; Edwards, Leko (Asomugha 86), Tulloch.
Substitutes: House, Delaney, Brown, Gilbert.