Play-off hopes for West Brom U21s suffer dent

West Brom under-21s were undone by an injury-time winner against Blackburn Rovers last night that dented their play-off hopes for the season.

It looked like Samir Nabi, younger brother of former academy striker Adil, had rescued a point with a penalty in stoppage time that made the scores 1-1.

But Scott Wharton headed in a 93rd-minute winner for Blackburn to leave James Shan's side crestfallen.

"Sickening late goal to concede last night," tweeted Shan. "Lads were very good second half! Credit to Blackburn Rovers, onto the next @WBAFCofficial 21s."

The defeat leaves Albion in eighth place of the Barclays U21 Premier League Division Two, three points behind Rovers who now occupy fifth place, the last play-off spot.

Shan's team must win their last game of the season away at high-flying Arsenal next Monday and pray Blackburn lose at home to third-placed Villa to have any hope of sneaking into the play-offs.

The Baggies started this season on an 11-game unbeaten run and at one stage they were fighting for automatic promotion.

But Shan's side has been hit by head coach Tony Pulis's decision to loan out academy players to lower league and non-league teams, and the U21s have won just one game in their last 12 outings.

"These kids need to get out and play football," said Pulis. "Whether it's non-league football, first, second third division football, whatever it is, they need to play football so they get that experience.

"They find out what it's all about. That's very important to emphasise to the people at our football club."

Jonathan Leko, Sam Field, and Tyler Roberts all played in Blackburn after travelling up to Manchester with the first team at the weekend.