Two goals in a minute from Sinan Bytyqi and Jordi Hiwula were enough for the three points, after Patrick Vieira’s men had dominated possession and spurned a host of good chances at the Hawthorns.
Vieira fielded a largely unchanged side from the one that demolished Middlesbrough last week. The game brought another start for striker John Guidetti, who continues his comeback from injury, but there was no place for Dedryck Boyata or Jose Angel Pozo.
Matthias Bossaerts and Angus Gunn, who were in under-18s action against Liverpool on Saturday, were named on the bench.
In dreadful weather conditions of swirling winds and heavy rain, the young Blues were well on top in the first half but struggled to create many clear-cut chances against a packed-out Baggies defence.
The best effort of the half fell to Guidetti after just four minutes. When Greg Leigh’s cross to the far post caused chaos in the West Brom penalty area, the ball ricocheted to the striker who looked certain to score but instead, somehow blazed his shot wide.
The Blues then had a shout for a penalty waved away on 10 minutes, when Bytyqi was challenged by Danny Barrow, and Guidetti saw another shot deflected off-target.
Albert Rusnak – the architect for the majority of attacks throughout the afternoon – also had one effort turned wide and another comfortably saved by Ben Foster.
West Brom’s only attack of the first half came via a dangerous cross that evaded everyone – much to City’s relief – on 25 minutes.
In the second half, the Baggies posed more of a threat and the game was a much more even affair. The home side had their first shot of the afternoon on 53 minutes, but Callum Jones forced his effort wide.
Bytyqi then beat several West Brom defenders before firing a shot over the bar and substitute Seko Fofana’s fierce effort was blocked for a corner.
City were then unlucky not to open the scoring on 64 minutes when Adam Drury’s cross rebounded off a West Brom defender and into the arms of substitute goalkeeper Jack Rose.
Then, just moments later, the Blues had another penalty claim rejected when Rusnak went down in the area.
Devante Cole, who replaced Marcos Lopes at half-time, spurned a great chance on 68 minutes after robbing a West Brom defender of possession. The striker unleashed a curling effort to the back post but it sailed wide.
West Brom then had a period of pressure and Ian Lawlor was called into action a few times, gathering a low shot at the second attempt before pushing away an awkward bouncing effort.
With just under 10 minutes to go, City finally broke the deadlock when Bytyqi stepped up to take a free-kick and curled his effort into the bottom corner.
It was no more than the Blues deserved and they sealed the win just a minute later when substitute Hiwula raced clear before firing a shot into the far corner to put the result beyond any doubt.
