Albion kicked off the new campaign with a goalless draw against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in a behind closed-doors friendly at the American Express Elite Performance Centre on Saturday.
In sweltering temperatures, Graham Potter fielded a total of 23 players with the XI changing entirely at half-time while several players who have just returned to training following international duty last month watched from the stands.
Union are further into their pre-season preparations and the Belgian club gave Albion a good test in a game of few clear-cut chances at either end.
The Union line-up included Simon Adingra, who joined Albion last month before heading to Belgium on loan. The Ivorian striker looked lively in the first half while another player to impress was Albion debutant Julio Enciso.
The Paraguay striker forced Union keeper Anthony Moris into a scrambling save to his right from a tenth-minute free kick while Michal Karbownik, back from his loan spell with Olympiacos, shot wide after good work by Solly March down the right.
But Union had perhaps the best chance of the first period when Adringa’s persistence created a chance for Dante Vanzeir, but Matt Clarke’s block meant his shot deflected over Jason Steele’s crossbar.
Albion made 11 changes for the second half with Deniz Undav making his first appearance and they began to press for the opening goal
Jan Paul van Hecke, back from a successful loan spell with Blackburn last season, tested Moris on the hour with a header which the Union keeper kept out at full stretch before his replacement, Joachim Imbrechts, dealt with Pascal Gross’s deflected free kick from 20 yards out.
Neal Maupay nearly turned in Gross’s left-wing cross inside a crowded six-yard box before the Frenchman picked up a booking for a late challenge on Loic Lapoussin.
Neither side was able to find a goal but it was still a useful exercise for both teams. Albion are heading to Europe on Sunday for a week-long training camp.
Albion (1st half): Steele, Clarke, Dunk, Cucurella, Offiah, Karbownik, March, Lallana, Weir, Enciso, Welbeck.
2nd half: Scherpen, Lamptey, Veltman, Webster, van Hecke, Kozlowski, Alzate, Gross, Zeqiri, Maupay, Undav. Subs used: Jenks.
Referee: Keith Stroud.