Albion finished their pre-season preparations with a 4-1 defeat at Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon.
Kyle Bartley netted for the Baggies towards the end of the first period after Alfie May’s 20th minute opener - but second half goals from Christoph Klarer, Willum Willumsson and May again saw Blues claim the win.
The competitive action starts next Saturday (August 10) as Carlos Corberán’s men head to QPR and get their 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship campaign underway.
A minute’s silence was observed ahead of the friendly in memory of former Albion player and coach Craig Shakespeare, who sadly passed away earlier this week.
Once the action began it was the Baggies who started brightly and threatened a few times early on, most notably when John Swift curled inches wide.
However, Blues were the ones to open the scoring midway through the opening 45 when the visitors gifted them possession and May was on hand to tap home.
Corberán’s team soaked up some Birmingham pressure following their goal, and then carved out an equaliser ahead of the interval. Josh Maja’s cross was knocked down by Semi Ajayi in the area and Bartley met it to poke Albion level.
Alex Mowatt had an opportunity to put the Baggies ahead within three minutes of the restart yet sliced his volley narrowly over, while Blues’ Paik Seung-Ho curled a free-kick off target at the other end.
The game turned Birmingham’s way with 18 minutes remaining, though, via Klarer’s close-range finish - and late Willumsson and May efforts sealed the victory for City.
Albion: Palmer; Furlong (Diamonde 84), Ajayi, Bartley (Taylor 77), Heggem (Hall 77); Diakite, Mowatt (Molumby 66); Fellows (Heard 77), Swift (Dauda 84), Grant (Cleary 84); Maja (Faal 77).
Substitutes: Wildsmith, Mandey, Whitwell.