West Brom Reserves 3 Norwich Reserves 1

West Brom set up a top-of-the-table West Midlands showdown with Villa by beating Norwich to move level on points with their local rivals.

The 3-1 triumph against the Canaries at the Baggies' Great Barr training ground yesterday left David Oldfield's men trailing Villa just by goal difference at the top of the Barclays Premier Reserve League (South).

The sides meet at Villa's Bodymoor Heath training ground next Tuesday.

The Baggies trailed bottom-of-the-table Norwich in the third minute when Birmingham-born James Vaughan, who was continuing his comeback from injury, converted the rebound after Marton Fulop had saved his penalty.

But the Baggies were behind for just four minutes before Lateef Elford-Alliyu equalised on the day he returned to Albion following his loan at Tranmere.

And they went 2-1 up before half-time through Sam Mantom before Kemar Roofe added a third just before the hour.

Oldfield's side then needed former Ipswich keeper Fulop to make a host of good saves late on to make sure of the points.

First team fringe players Billy Jones, Craig Dawson and George Thorne all completed 90 minutes for Albion.

Albion (4-5-1): Fulop; B Jones, Dawson, D Daniels, Gayle; O'Neil (Nabi, 50), Thorne, Mantom, Allan (Edge, 69), Roofe; Elford-Alliyu (A Jones, 88). Subs not used: Garmston, Rose (gk).