Albion suffered a 2-1 defeat in the opening game of their American tour after Boaz Myhill’s early error against San Jose Earthquakes.
Myhill was beaten by opposite number from 90-yards in the third minute after misjudging a long clearance.
It got worse for the Wales international when he conceded a second just before the half time whistle.
Albion rallied after the break and Jerome Thomas pulled one back with a fine individual goal eight minutes into the second half. But despite testing the Earthquakes’ keeper a number of times, the Baggies were unable to draw level in their first pre-season fixture.
Baggies boss Roy Hodgson defended the error by Myhill and backed the ‘keeper’s judgement.
“The game was very useful,” he said.
"We lost it to a freak goal in the third minute.
"The goalkeeper's kick-out had the most ludicrous bounce I have seen in a long while and went straight into the goal.
"You don't see those sorts of goals very often.
"But the players did well to recover from that and approaching half-time we were looking quite good.
"Then we conceded a second goal from a long shot, which was disappointing, but in the second-half we gave good effort again.
"I was very pleased with the shape of the team and the way we played, the result is a bit disappointing but, after one week of training, the result was the least important thing on my mind.
"It was about having no injuries, getting a good fitness workout and showing that we are already retaining some of what we had last year.
"To have a chance of saving the goal, Boaz would have had to be standing on the goalline, which you don't do.
"Their goalkeeper was kicking the ball out and, when that happens, your goalkeeper is always likely to be more on the penalty spot than the goalline.
"He would have had no chance.
"It was just the bounce of the ball."
Do you think Myhill will start for Albion in their opening game of the season after his error? Have your say at Baggies Banter here.