STANLEY 1

WEST BROM 3

STANLEY suffered their first loss at the Wham Stadium this season as Premier League West Brom knocked them out of the Carabao Cup at the second round stage.

The Reds enjoyed a trip to the third round last year, seeing off Burnley before losing to West Ham, but there was no repeat of the top flight cup heroics this season.

Tony Pulis fielded a strong side with the Baggies making just four changes from the starting XI which beat Burnley 1-0 on Saturday. Former Clarets striker Jay Rodriguez once again got the nod up front – and he played a big part in the victory.

Stanley boss John Coleman had hinted at wholesale changes, with the Reds playing at Notts County on Friday, but he only made three with Brighton loan defender Tom Dallison coming in for Omar Beckles, who joined Shrewsbury yesterday. Scott Brown and Jonny Edwards also got the nod for the Reds.

The Premier League side, who had won their two previous games 1-0, took control from the off and on four minutes Venezuelan Salomon Rondon raced through with only the legs of Aaron Chapman keeping him out.

The Baggies opened the scoring on 11 minutes when a right wing cross from Rodriguez was headed into the net by £12m signing Rondon.

Rodriguez had a chance to double the tally four minutes later but his shot fell into the grateful arms of Chapman.

The Stanley first half attacks were limited but they came agonisingly close to an equaliser on 22 minutes when a short corner ended with Brown finding Hull loanee Edwards but his free header was inches over the bar.

However West Brom soon made it 2-0 on 31 minutes when they broke quickly in numbers from a Stanley free kick and Matty Phillips fired past Chapman.

Liam Nolan had the chance to get a goal back five minutes before the break but he hooked his effort wide while, at the other end, Nacer Chadli looked to make it three on the stroke of half-time but Chapman denied him.

West Brom keeper Boaz Myhill made his first real save in the 53rd minute when he kept out a Sean McConville 30-yard strike but it was West Brom who continued to press with Rodriguez denied by Chapman while Rondon blasted over in a superb position.

Stanley’s on-fire striker Kayden Jackson was through on goal on 63 minutes and Stanley appealed for a spot kick for a pull on his shirt as he fired over with nothing given.

And West Brom went straight up the other end with Rodriguez finishing off a move with a low shot for his first Baggies goal, following his summer move from Southampton, on 64 minutes.

Stanley survived a couple of goalmouth scrambles while winger Mekhi McLeod came on for the Reds and looked lively, drilling a shot wide and forcing Myhill into a save as Coleman’s men then forced the pace.

And the Reds got a consolation their play deserved in the 87th minute when Dallison fired home his first Stanley goal following his loan move, slotting the ball into the far corner of the net.

It was too little, too late for the Reds with a cup run a nice distraction but League Two promotion always their main aim.

Stanley: Chapman, Donacien, Hughes, Richards-Everton, Dallison, McConville, Nolan, Brown (Conneely 66), Clark, Jackson (McLeod 66), Edwards (Kee 53)

Subs: Jorgensen, Sykes, Ogle, Sousa

West Brom: Myhill, McClean, Dawson, Hegazi, Nyom, Barry (Livermore 66), Phillips, Morrison (Harper 77), Chadli, Rodriguez (Leko 66), Rondon

Subs: Foster, Brunt, Roberts, Wilson