Albion kicked off their Premier League Cup campaign with a hard-earned victory over Sheffield United on Monday evening.
Two first half goals from Tom Fellows and Fenton Heard were enough to earn the hosts a 2-1 victory in the balmy Keys Park conditions, with the Baggies holding firm to claim the spoils despite a second-half Antwoine Hackford goal.
The visitors included first-team charges within their travelling ranks, with Jayden Bogle and Luke Thomas both starting the encounter.
Albion's strongest first-team contenders came in the shape of Caleb Taylor and Fellows, both having featured throughout pre-season for Carlos Corberán's first-team and previously completing loan spells away from The Hawthorns in the 2022/23 campaign.
The first chance of the evening fell to United as Hackford latched onto a ball over the top of the defence, but his attempt was not enough to get the better of Ted Cann - who saved and gathered at the second attempt.
Fellows was the man on the end of Albion's first opportunity, cutting in from the right before firing at goal, but his effort was straight into the grateful arms of visiting goalkeeper Callum Yam.
Fellows wasn't to be denied with his second chance though, latching onto a ball in the final third before composing himself and firing an unstoppable strike off the underside of the bar and into the back of the net to give Albion the lead just after the half hour mark.
Reece Hall almost doubled the host's advantage soon after, bursting to the byline before seeing his attempted cross almost put across his own line by the Blades' goalkeeper.
A second goal did arrive before the end of the first 45, this time through Heard, who found the bottom left corner with a fine finish after great work from Akeel Higgins in the middle of the park.
The visitors started the second period with added fervour, almost getting a goal back immediately after the restart, but Cann was alert at his near post to deny Bogle from the tightest of angles.
Another opportunity arrived for the Blades moments later, but it was Cann on hand once more to deny them with a brilliant reflex save from a header within the six-yard box.
The pressure soon paid off for the visitors though, with their opener coming ahead of the hour mark. An error in the heart of the Albion defence allowed Hackford through on goal, and he made no mistake from within the area to finally get the better of the Baggies goalkeeper.
The visitors continued to push for a leveller, but Cann continued to thwart them, whilst at the other end Kevin Mfuamba saw a powerful volley blocked as Albion looked to regain their two-goal advantage.
The Blades wasted a great chance to earn a point in the 90th minute, but after a neat move saw them create space within the area their final strike at goal proved wayward and Albion held out to claim a hard-fought victory.
Albion: Cann, Fellows (Deeming 77), Nelson, Taylor ©️ (Mohammed 77), Hall , Harper-Bailey, Heard, Mfuamba, Love (Sule 64), Richards, Higgins (Walker 64).
Substitutes not used: Brady.
