Club News

Checkatrade Trophy opener ends in defeat at Millwall

Brave Baggies beaten by Lions at The Den

*Young Baggies side competed well

*Jimmy Abdou opened scoring in 63rd minute at The Den

*Steve Morison added second from the spot after 76 minutes

*Shaun Donnellan returns from Stevenage loan to start

*Kane Wilson plays 90 minutes

ALBION’s Checkatrade Trophy southern section Group H campaign started with a 2-0 defeat against Millwall.

An extremely young and inexperienced Baggies team took on the side currently sitting fifth in League One and they competed admirably throughout the night at The Den.

Jimmy Abdou opened the scoring midway through the second-half before Steve Morison secured the three points with a penalty 14 minutes from time.

The visitors made a solid start to the encounter and Andre Wright fired narrowly wide from the edge of the area in the 13th minute.

James Smith then headed over the crossbar from a tight angle after meeting a high, hanging cross from Shaun Donnellan.

Albion restricted the hosts to shots from long range with Gregg Wylde and Noah Chesmain both blasting wide of the target.

Lions forward Aiden O’Brien met Chesmain’s cross from the left moments before the break but his header failed to test Jack Rose.

Tony Craig and Shaun Williams both saw efforts land wide of The Albion keeper’s far post early in the second-half as Millwall went in search of a breakthrough.

Their pressure told in the 63rd minute when Abdou found himself free on the right-hand side of the penalty area and confidently slotted past Rose at the near post.

Brad Sweeney was then harshly adjudged to have fouled Millwall sub Ben Thomspon inside the box which handed fellow replacement Morison the chance to all but seal the victory.

The striker calmly placed the ball beyond the reach of Rose from the spot in the 76th minute.

Wright had Albion’s final chance of the night but he saw his strike from 20 yards end up in the gloves of Tom King.

Despite the disappointing result Shan was pleased with his side's performance against league opposition.

He said: "I thought that lads did themselves justice tonight against a very good Millwall side who had plenty of experience.

"It was a fantastic experience for the boys.

"The lads executed the game plan really well which was to frustrate them and keep them down one side.

"We could've been a bit more patient on the ball and probed a bit more but the effort can't be questioned.

"We knew their experience was going to tell at some stage and that we would be up against their momentum.

"Unfortunately on two occasions from a direct ball they have scored two goals.

"We got a positive reaction tonight from the defeat at Wolves but we have to replicate tonight's performance in our Premier League 2 games."

MILLWALL: King; Romeo, Nelson, Craig ©, Chesmain; Abdou, Twardek (Worrall 66), Williams (Thompson 66), Wylde; Philpot, O’Brien (Morison 66).

Unused subs: Archer, Webster.

ALBION: Rose; Wilson, Fitzwater © (Piggott 90), O’Shea, McCourt; Sweeney, Nabi, Donnellan (Elbouzedi HT); Smith (Pritchatt 77), Harper; Wright.

Unused subs: Palmer, Wilding, Forss, Melbourne.

Referee: Brendan Malone