Not for the first time this season Albion staged a late comeback to rescue a point. A 2-2 draw against bottom side Barnsley was enough to keep the Baggies two points clear at the top of the Championship.
The visitors opened the scoring against the run of play in the 18th minute when Dimitri Cavare found space behind Nathan Ferguson to cross for Cauley Woodrow to head home from point blank range. Albion’s slow start was punished six minutes later when Woodrow was allowed too much space on the edge of the area as he fired a left-footed shot past Sam Johnstone.
For the first time this season Albion looked like they lacked answers to unlock a well drilled Barnsley side who looked set for only their second victory of the season.
Slaven Bilic made two changes at half time with the ineffective Kyle Edwards replaced with Fillip Krovinovic and Nathan Ferguson making way for Conor Townsend.
Albion pushed men forward looking for a way back into the game but it was the visitors who again looked most likely to find the net. They were unlucky not to do so when Cameron McGeehan’s looking header hit the crossbar and to safety.
The Baggies did find a way back into it in the 68th minute when Matheus Pereira’s inswinging corner was turned into his own net by Bambo Diaby. That gave Albion the impetus they badly needed and the equaliser came when Pereira headed in Townsend’s delightful cross nine minutes from time.