ALBION Under-18s came from behind to beat FA Premier Academy League (Group C) leaders Blackburn 2-1 on Saturday.

The Baggies were forced into a last-hour reshuffle when striker Chris Wood was called away during the warm-up for first-team duty against Bristol City in the wake of Roman Bednar falling ill.

Keith Downing's men also fell behind to a 35th-minute strike against a Rovers side previously only beaten once this term.

But the hosts did not let that faze them as Romaine Sawyers equalised 20 minutes into the second-half and Sam Mantom fired the winner ten minutes from time.

"You can see why they're top," said Downing.

"They're a decent team and play a similar system to us.

"It was a very, very tight game.

"They scored after about 35 minutes when their left-winger cut inside and fired home from 25 yards.

"It was a game where both sides cancelled each other out in the first-half.

"In the second-half we stepped up to the plate a little more and we kept our shape and disciplines better.

"We stuck to a game-plan, managed the situation well, kept persevering and kept our patience.

"We turned it around as a team and through organisation.

"Our two full-backs locked onto their two wide players and stopped them playing.

"And our two centre-halves were very strong and dominant in the second-half.

"At the top end of the field there was some good play to open Blackburn up on occasions.

"It was a tough game and it gives us good confidence going into a difficult youth cup game."

Albion Under-18s visit Swansea in the FA Youth Cup third round tomorrow week (ko 7pm).

ALBION: Allsop, Gayle, Samuels, Mantom, Downing, Malcolm, Berahino, Thorne, Lynch, Sawyers, Brown. Subs not used: Tebbutt (gk), Grier, Lovell, Mannion.