Shrewsbury 1 West Brom 4: New boy nets two in comprehensive win

Jimmy-Jay Morgan fired a brace as sharp Albion earned a comfortable 4-1 pre-season victory at Shrewsbury Town.

Academy graduate Harry Whitwell struck a fine opener on a very eye-catching display by the Baggies youngster, who was pick of the bunch for James Morrison’s men.

Exciting new recruit from Chelsea Morgan struck twice before half-time after Shrewsbury had pulled one back from some sloppy Albion defending.

Aune Heggebo nodded a late fourth for the Baggies, who also won by the same scoreline against Bromley in Portugal.

Morrison would have been left satisfied watching on from the dugout, as almost his entire XI played 90 minutes. A split-squad were in action elsewhere today as a younger group were beaten 3-1 in a training ground clash with Notts County.

It quickly became a sort of Albion keep ball routine in Shropshire. The Baggies kept possession well on the flanks, particularly on the left with Isaac Price and Morgan busy.

The youthful right side got involved, too, with Alex Williams and Whitwell combining well.

Shrewsbury happily sat back and invited Albion to pick the lock. It led to space outside the penalty area as the busy Alex Mowatt fired well over and birthday boy Ousmane Diakite had an effort fielded.

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Morrison’s men were bright inside the box. Morgan thrashed into the side netting from an angle after Heggebo teed him up from Mowatt’s cross.

The bright Morgan fired on to the foot of the post as the one-way traffic continued.

Breakthrough was imminent as the visitors earned a 16th-minute lead.

Heggebo and Morgan combined well and the latter worked it out to Whitwell, in space, on the edge of the box and slightly right.

He took stock before picking out the bottom left corner in pinpoint style with a caressed finish.

Town briefly showed a sign of life before the Baggies’ second on 26 minutes. Albion cleared a corner before home defender Byron Pendleton slipped, allowing Morgan the freedom of half the pitch.

The former Chelsea youngster took his time before he opted for a cheeky, deft finish over goalkeeper Sam Proctor. It was the finish of a confident youngster.

Morrison’s men switched off thereafter and were punished. Town should have scored but Chris Mepham blocked Fletcher and Kevin Berkoe sent the rebound wide.

Max O’Leary survived a slip against his former club before Diakite’s ball back to George Campbell was undercooked. Campbell and Albion wanted a foul but Tom Sang squared for Fletcher to score.

The strike back breathed life back in the Baggies following some brief pre-season handbags between Price and Joe Gbode.

Whitwell’s rocket from range was saved spectacularly but the corner created a third.

The delivery from the left was headed goalward by Mepham and Morgan pounced from close range to stab home in front of the goalkeeper.

With no changes for either, the second half started like the first - with more Baggies keep ball.

Morgan had a sharp strike parried away several minutes of possession, as Price and Mowatt fired off target.

The friendly dropped into a sleepy state in the Shropshire wind. Albion continued to try to drive the pace and Price did well to earn a free-kick curled just wide by Mowatt.

The travelling Baggies cranked up the atmosphere in the almost sold-out West Stand of 3,200 away fans and their side responded.

Birthday boy Diakite almost lit up the stage as he crashed the crossbar from 25 yards from more patient, sharp play.

Heggebo made it four with a deserved goal as he nodded in from close range from Morgan’s cross from the left. Morgan was then denied a hat-trick by a low angled strike.

Young Baggies fans flooded the field at full-time to grab a memento or keepsake with Shrewsbury’s stewarding as friendly as the defending.

Shrewsbury (3-4-1-2): Proctor; Pendleton (Jude-Boyd, 45), Boyle, Lee (Stubbs, 45); Sang (Turner-Cooke, 62), Gray, Ruffels, Berkoe; Fletcher (England, 71); Lloyd (Davison, 62), Gbode (Thompson-McKenzie, 81).

Subs not used: Brook (gk), Hall, Falding.

Albion (4-4-2): O’Leary; Williams, Mepham, Campbell, Styles (Maughan, 89); Whitwell (Colesby, 89), Mowatt (c), Diakite, Price (McNeil, 89); Heggebo, Morgan.

Subs not used: Cisse (gk), Gilchrist, Dupont.