MICHAEL Appleton was defiant in defeat as one of the club's youngest second-string sides did him proud.

Goals either side of the break from Michael Uwezu and Wayne Brown respectively saw Albion's long-awaited return to action end in defeat.

But reserves boss Appleton, who oozed praise for Graham Dorrans' midfield display, reckoned only a shortage of belief from his young charges prevented them getting more out of the game.

He said: "I'm pleased as punch with them.

"We fielded one of the youngest sides we have probably had.

"Apart from Jared Hodgkiss, David Worrall and Graham, we had two or three 16 year olds and five or six 17 year olds out there.

"We passed the ball really well in two thirds of the pitch.

"We just lacked a bit of a cutting edge in and around their box.

"But there were lots of positives. We had a lot of good performances.

"Graham was probably the best player on the pitch and the lads around him reacted to that."

Albion, playing their first Barclays Premier Reserve League (South) fixture for more than two months, fell behind on 11 via Uwezu's cool, angled finish.

Baggies keeper Gary Woods then came to the visitors' rescue by denying Leijer from Brown's cross.

Dorrans almost levelled just before the break when his quick free-kick smashed the post before Josh Knight drew a fine save from David Stockdale.

Knight then had strong claims for a penalty turned away.

In the second half, Hodgkiss did well to clear Andranik's header off the line - but it was only a temporary reprieve.

Uwezu won a free-kick on 68 and Brown curled the set-piece home to effectively seal the points.

ALBION: Woods, Hodgkiss, Samuels, Clarke, Downing, Dorrans, Knight (Sawyers 72), Lake-Gaskin, Brown (Elford-Alliyu 62), Worrall, Wood. Subs not used: Allsop (gk), Mantom, Waghorn.