Albion Head Coach Carlos Corberán was denied a dream start to life at The Hawthorns as Sheffield United beat his new side 2-0.
Early goals from Iliman Ndiaye and Oli McBurnie earned the Blades all three Sky Bet Championship points on Saturday afternoon.
The Baggies now turn their attention straight to a midweek clash with Blackpool in B71.
After receiving a warm welcome ahead of the game, it was a far from ideal start for Corberán - who watched his team go a goal behind within 11 minutes via Ndiaye’s close-range finish.
The visitors then doubled their lead midway through the half thanks to McBurnie, the Blades striker curling home following a quick counter-attack.
Albion spent the remainder of the period camped in Sheffield United territory yet couldn’t find an equaliser, despite Grady Diangana and Matty Phillips efforts and a string of corners.
The sides exchanged chances straight after the break in search of that all-important next goal. First Karlan Grant raced through and saw a shot saved comfortably, before Ndiaye rounded Alex Palmer down the other end but only found the side-netting.
Corberán changed the shape and brought on John Swift and Jayson Molumby to try and turn the tide, and it was the two substitutes that came closest to netting - Swift striking just wide and Molumby forcing Adam Davies into a strong stop.
Brandon Thomas-Asante replaced the bright Taylor Gardner-Hickman for one last throw of the dice, however the Baggies couldn’t break down United and Paul Heckingbottom’s men claimed the victory.
Albion: Palmer; Furlong, O’Shea, Pieters; Phillips, Gardner-Hickman (Thomas-Asante 85), Livermore (Molumby 59), Townsend (Reach 77); Diangana, Grant, Wallace (Swift 59).
Substitutes: Button, Kelly, Yokuslu.
Attendance: 22,270