West Brom miss out in Checkatrade Trophy
Gareth Barry returned from injury for Albion in the Checkatrade Trophy – but the midfielder could not prevent the Baggies from slipping to a 2-1 defeat at Macclesfield.
The 37-year-old former England midfielder had been out with a calf problem but completed a 45-minute run-out as he looks to return to the first team fold.
Boaz Myhill was between the posts for Albion but it was an otherwise young Baggies side who saw any hopes of progressing from Group C snuffed out by the defeat.
Albion went into the game in the knowledge that a victory would see them progress to the last 32 of the competition as they looked to impress head coach Darren Moore, who was watching from the stand.
They made a bright start at Moss Rose and it was little surprise when a Rayhaan Tulloch put the visitors ahead after a quarter of an hour, firing into an empty net after a low cross evaded the home keeper.
The young winger tucked home from close range after a period of pressure from Jamie Smith’s young Baggies.
However, the lead proved short-lived as the Silkmen hit back just four minutes later.
Ben Stephens struck the equaliser after Scott Wilson was played in. He shot straight at Myhill, but was first to the rebound to poke the ball through to Stephens who slammed home.
The Macc lads’ second came just moments later as the home side’s Koby Arthur picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and curled into the net past the diving Myhill.
Albion came out for the second half desperately seeking a leveller of their own.
They had chances to strike back through Callum Morton, who shot wide, and Nicky Clayton, who also fired past the post. Tulloch came close to equalising late in the game, but his shot from the edge of the penalty area couldn’t quite find its way into the bottom corner of the net.
