Albion were beaten 3-2 by Birmingham City in the Sky Bet Championship on Wednesday night.
Scott Hogan’s hat-trick at The Hawthorns earned Blues all three points despite Baggies efforts from Jed Wallace and Brandon Thomas-Asante.
Steve Bruce’s side are next in action this Saturday away to Norwich City.
![Albion and Blues pay their respects to Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II](https://cdn.wba.co.uk/sites/default/files/2022-09/queen_albion_v_blues.jpg)
The manager named an unchanged team from Albion’s last outing, the dramatic 1-1 draw with Burnley 12 days earlier.
Ahead of kick-off there was an impeccably observed minute’s silence from both sets of supporters in remembrance of Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, followed by a stadium-wide rendition of the national anthem.
It was the visitors who started strongest and secured the lead 13 minutes in, Hogan escaping the Baggies back-line and slotting a composed finish past David Button.
Albion responded well, though, and equalised midway through the first period. Jayson Molumby played an inch-perfect pass to send Wallace one-on-one with John Ruddy, and the winger made no mistake.
Much of the remaining half was disrupted by various stoppages – yet Taylor Gardner-Hickman was forced into producing a goal-saving tackle just before the break to deny Birmingham’s Tahith Chong from scoring.
![](https://cdn.wba.co.uk/sites/default/files/2022-09/wallace_goal_v_blues.jpg)
Much like in the first half, Blues began brightly and netted their second of the evening on the 54th minute when Hogan smashed home via the post after a quick counter-attack.
Bruce brought on Thomas-Asante and Albion searched for another leveller – Dara O’Shea curling over and Wallace seeing a shot blocked.
Birmingham, however, withstood the pressure and extended their lead through Hogan’s run and near-post poke, sealing his hat-trick and Blues’ third.
Still, Albion were handed a lifeline with seven minutes remaining, Thomas-Asante earning a penalty and picking himself up to convert from 12-yards.
![](https://cdn.wba.co.uk/sites/default/files/2022-09/bta_goal_v_blues.jpg)
And they pushed late on but just couldn’t grab that goal, Grady Diangana heading the best opportunity straight at Ruddy as Blues held onto the win.
Albion: Button, Gardner-Hickman (Phillips 77), Bartley (Pieters 77), O’Shea, Townsend; Yokulsu (Thomas-Asante 60), Molumby; Wallace, Swift, Diangana; Grant (Livermore 77).
Substitutes: Palmer, Furlong, Reach.
Attendance: 23,089