Our under-21s missed the chance to go third in Premier League 2 as a slick Fulham condemned them to a 3-0 loss at Motspur Park on Friday night.
First-half goals from Imani Lanquedoc and Luke Harris put the Cottagers firmly in the driving seat as Albion struggled to find their rhythm in near-freezing conditions.
The west London outfit put the game out of sight with a third through James Williams' header from a corner 15 minutes from time as Shannon Ruth's side dropped to seventh in the division with their third league defeat of the campaign.
Albion, who were without several key regulars, were on the back foot right from the off and would have fallen behind had it not been for goalkeeper Tom McGill brilliantly denying Harris from ten yards out.
With the away side limited to counter-attacking scraps, Fulham pressed home their advantage and took the lead in the 15th minute when an unmarked Lanquedoc was allowed to tear into the box and power an effort past McGill.
The visitors, who were playing a lot of their football in their own half, nearly grabbed an equaliser against the run of play when Noel Atom climbed highest from a corner but diverted his header wide of the post.
That miss proved costly as minutes later Harris did get on the scoresheet when he slotted home near the penalty spot after 26 minutes.
It was nearly 3-0 when Jonathan Esenga's stunning free-kick cannoned off the crossbar ten minutes before the interval, as the home team looked a threat with every attack.
Louis Flower had a good chance to reduce the deficit shortly before the break when he tried to sweep in Casper Nilsson's dangerous cross, only for goalkeeper George Wickens to make a smart stop.
Albion, who had just two shots on goal compared to Fulham's 12 in the first half, started the second half brightly as substitute Brody Peart was denied by an outstretched Wickens, and then Jamie Mullins curled an effort just over the bar.
However, Fulham looked like they had more goals in them when Idris Odutayo's glancing header nearly looped into the corner, but McGill managed to scamper across in time to make a top save.
Josh Duffus, who made his Europa League debut in the first-team's 1-0 win over AEK Athens 24 hours prior, was unable to break down Fulham's defence, while fellow Greek travellers McGill, Ben Jackson, and Samy Chouchane were put under constant pressure.
The game was well and truly over when Williams's header found the top corner as Fulham deservedly claimed all three points. Albion will hope to bounce back from this defeat when they take on League Two outfit MK Dons in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.
Albion: McGill, Nilsson (Ifill 65), McConville (Tasker 85), Atom, Jackson, Slater, Knight (Peart 46), Chouchane, Mullins, Duffus (Gorman 65), Flower.
Subs not used: Cahill