ALBION’s preparations for the 2018/19 Sky Bet Championship campaign stepped up a gear with a 1-1 draw against Aberdeen on Friday night.
Jake Livermore was on target for the Baggies at Pittodrie in a game which saw Kyle Bartley and Jonathan Bond make their debuts for the Club.
A total of 262 dedicated Albion fans made the 840-mile round trip to watch their side take on Derek McInnes’ men, who open their season in less than week with a Europa League qualifier against Burnley.
After a tight opening 36 minutes the deadlock was broken by the hosts who went ahead through Sam Cosgrove.
The towering forward powered a header into the bottom corner, well out of Bond’s reach, having confidently met Gary Mackay-Steven’s left-wing cross.
But the Baggies were behind for just five minutes. Jay Rodriguez broke down the left and forced Joe Lewis into a smart save, however the Dons stopper only pushed it straight to the feet of Livermore who had an easy tap-in from six yards.
Both teams had chances in the second half but neither could find a winner as Moore and McInnes’ reunion ended all-square.
ALBION: Bond (Palmer 65), Cranie (Hegazi 70), Fitzwater, Bartley (Wilson HT), Gibbs (Melbourne HT), Brunt (Leko 70), Livermore (Harper HT), Field (Morrison 65), Phillips (Burke 65), Edwards, Rodriguez (Robson-Kanu 65).
Unused sub: Dawson.