Baggies miss out on the play-offs
ALBION’s Under-21 side missed out on a play-off spot despite an eye-catching 2-1 win at Arsenal on Monday night.
The Baggies needed to collect three points against the Gunners at Boreham Wood and hope that Blackburn lost at home to Villa to finish inside the top five.
Albion kept their end of the bargain, but Rovers survived a late scare to draw 2-2 and secure the last play-off position at the expense of James Shan’s men.
Joe Ward gave the visitors the lead in the seventh minute when he poked the ball home from close range after Arsenal ‘keeper Matt Macey could only parry.
Arsenal were level six minutes into the second-half as England international midfielder Jack Wilshere looped the ball over Alex Palmer’s head from inside the penalty area.
But the Baggies, who had their backs to the wall for long periods, stole the victory 15 minutes from time through Samir Nabi who finished confidently after reacting quickest to a Macey save.
The result means Albion finish sixth in the Barclays U21 Division Two table.
ALBION: Palmer, Ezewele, Howkins, Donnellan, McCourt, Ward, Sweeney (Fitzwater 73), R.Nabi (Smith 60), S.Nabi, Scrivens (Pritchatt 81), Wright.
Unused subs: Ross, Barbir.