Albion Under-21s dropped a 2-0 lead to draw with Southampton in their fourth Premier League Cup group clash on Friday night.
Eseosa Sule and Evan Humphries had put Richard Beale’s boys in the driving seat. Frustratingly, a red card for defender Muhamed Diomande cost them dear as Moses Sesay and Baylee Dipepa netted to earn Saints a point at their Staplewood training base.
The result leaves the Baggies third in Group C with five points, and two qualification matches remaining against Swansea City and Fleetwood Town.
There were a few threatening moments from the hosts during the early knockings - mainly via the left flank - but Albion survived some inviting balls across the box before enjoying the better of the opportunities.
Michael Parker’s driving run forward resulted in a shot on goal, which was well-saved by Saints keeper Adli Mohamed, while Deago Nelson and Kevin Mfuamba both forced the stopper into saves.
But target man Sule went closest to a breakthrough before the halfway mark; first hitting the crossbar after cutting in from the left, and then a curling effort destined for the top corner was clawed out to keep things goalless.
The restart saw similar control from the visitors, with Dan Chimeziri finding the palms of Mohamed in his way as Albion pushed for the opener.
And they didn’t have to wait much longer for it when Deago Nelson cut inside onto his weaker left foot, guided a lofted ball into the area, and Sule rose well to nod in for 1-0.
Things got even better when substitute Humphries drove in from the left, linked up with Sule, and slotted in for the second of the game.
But late events saw the young Baggies draw yet again with the Saints. Sesay drove an effort in off the post for 2-1 which, a few minutes later, was followed up by an altercation between Diomande and Dipepa inside the visiting penalty area.
The former was dismissed, a penalty was awarded, and the latter slotted in the resulting spot-kick to help the home team claim an unlikely point from the clash.
Albion: Cisse, Nelson, Iddrisa, Diomande (c), Parker, Williams, Crowther, Mfuamba (Shaw 56), Chimeziri (Humphries 69), Bostock (Walker 90), Sule (Dupont 90).
Substitutes: Brady (GK).
Red card: Diomande 90+2
