A relatively young and inexperienced Albion side secured a 2-1 win over midland neighbours Walsall at the Banks’s Stadium.
Senior professionals Chris Brunt, who captained the Baggies on the night, Boaz Myhill, James McClean and Hal Robson-Kanu all completed 90 minutes in preparation for the forthcoming Premier League campaign.
Shaun Donnellan’s maiden goal for the first team and Robson-Kanu’s late winner ensured it was a night of double delight, with another Albion XI claiming a 1-0 victory at Burton Albion thanks to Jay Rodriguez’s header.
Boaz Myhill made three smart stops from Flo Cuvelier, Erhun Oztumer and Saddlers’ skipper Adam Chambers to keep the scores level in a tight and cagey opening half hour.
Robson-Kanu had Albion’s first opportunity of note moments before the break, clipping the crossbar from just inside the area following fantastic work from Jonathan Leko through the middle of the park.
The away side made a lively start to the second 45 and went ahead just eight minutes after the interval. Walsall were unable to clear McClean’s corner and young defender Donnellan calmly placed the ball into the far corner from eight yards.
Myhill was then quickly called into action, spectacularly tipping Cuvelier’s 30-yard drive over the crossbar.
But Walsall grabbed an equaliser in the 77th minute when Amadou Bakayoko’s fierce drive took a deflection off Chris Brunt and slammed into the net.
However, with just 90 seconds left on the clock, Leko weaved his way through and played a precise pass into Robson-Kanu who confidently lifted the ball over Gillespie to give the Baggies the win.
ALBION: Myhill, Wilson, O’Shea, Donnellan, Brunt; Field (Meredith 85), Harper (Chambers 78); Leko, Roberts (Edwards 71), McClean; Robson-Kanu.
Subs: Keranovic (GK), Bradley, Soleman.
WALSALL: Gillespie; Edwards (Kouhyar 73), Devlin, Guthrie, Leahy (Cockerill-Mollett HT); Cuvelier, Chambers, Wilson (K.Roberts 84), Morris; Oztumer (Candlin 78), Jackson (Bakayoko 71).
Subs: L.Roberts (GK), Kinsella, Flanagan.