A hat-trick from 18-year-old Leeds striker Luca Thomas consigned ten-man Albion to defeat in the opening match of their Premier League 2 season.
Samy Chouchane put Shannon Ruth’s team ahead early on but Leeds hit back to lead with two goals from the dangerous Thomas, who was making a impressive first appearance at this level.
Mark O’Mahony sent Albion in level with a close-range equaliser, but Ben Jackson’s red card just before the interval presented them with an uphill task in the second half and Thomas hit his third after 53 minutes, sub Morten Spencer making sure in added time.
Yet Albion had looked the better side in the opening stages and led after only five minutes. Andrew Moran worked his way past several defenders on the right and Chouchane hit the Irishman’s low cross first time past the right hand of Leeds goalkeeper Harry Christy.
The lead was almost doubled after 15 minutes. A flowing move on the break ended with Luca Barrington breaking free down the left before smacking a shot against the near post.
Instead Albion conceded an equaliser in the 17th minute when keeper Killian Cahill could not gather Connor Douglas’ mis-hit shot and Thomas belted home the loose ball.
Cahill made up for that error, blocking a goal bound shot with his legs when Douglas’ clever reverse pass gave Thomas a chance for his second goal. But Thomas would not be denied and he gave Leeds the lead for the first time four minutes before the interval, punishing a loose pass with a clinical finish.
Albion made it 2-2 when Cam Peupion accelerated down the right, and crossed low for O’Mahony to bundle the ball in from close range, although the final touch seemed to come from Leeds defender Mullen. But they faced an uphill struggle after Jackson was shown a red card for bringing down Thomas as he went through on goal.
Skipper Jack Hinshelwood dropped into the back four in the second half but could not prevent Thomas completing his hat-trick, prodding the ball in from a yard out after the home defence had failed to deal with Kris Moore’s low cross to the near post. Spencer broke away in added time to slide the fourth past Cahill.
Albion: Cahill; Nilsson (Slater 85), McConville, Jackson, Samuels; Chouchane, Hinshelwood; Peupion (Baker-Boaitey 85), Moran, Barrington (Duffus 71); O’Mahony (Mullins 74).
Subs not used: Reid