The young Magpies led inside six minutes at United's Little Benton Academy through Amadou Diallo's composed finish before Magpies goalkeeper Max Thompson denied Jamie Andrews from the penalty spot, tipping the Baggies skipper's spot-kick onto the post.

However, three goals in the space of 14 first-half minutes, courtesy of Akeel Higgins' brace and Rico Richards' close-range finish turned the Division Two clash on its head before Rodrigo Vilca's close-range header on the stroke of half-time halved the deficit for the hosts.

Reyes Cleary extended Albion's lead shortly after the restart, though, before the left winger's stoppage-time strike confirmed maximum points for the visitors.

With Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe in attendance, the Magpies' second-string got off to a flying start as Diallo netted his second goal of the season at under-21 level. After United striker Michael Ndiweni dispossessed Matt Richards, the Throckley-born forward teed up Diallo inside the penalty area before the London-born winger, who joined United's Academy in October 2022 following a successful trial, fired the ball into the net.

United conceded a penalty shortly after as Matt Bondswell brought Higgins down inside the box but Andrews was denied from 12 yards as the midfielder's attempt was tipped onto the left-hand post by Thompson before the loose ball was cleared to safety.

In the 24th minute, Newcastle found themselves on level terms as Higgins latched onto a lofted ball before slotting a low effort into the left-hand corner despite Thompson's best attempts to keep the effort out with his right leg.

United's second-string trailed on the half-hour mark through Richards. After Cleary's initial strike was parried by Thompson, the Baggies striker rounded the goalkeeper before placing the ball into the net from inside the six-yard area.

In the 38th minute, Newcastle fell further behind as Higgins got onto the end of Cleary's cross before finishing at the back post.

The young Magpies pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time through Vilca as the unmarked Peruvian midfielder nodded the ball into the net following Nathan Carlyon's inviting corner.

Four minutes after the restart, Newcastle were delivered a difficult blow as Cleary, who scored a brace in the reverse fixture in August, got his name on the scoresheet as the 18-year-old picked the ball up on the left flank, drove towards the box before drilling a powerful attempt beyond Thompson.

Ben Parkinson, who joined Newcastle's youth set-up at the age of seven, went close to netting his third goal in as many Premier League 2 matches, after controlling Vilca's diagonal cross but the 17-year-old forward lifted his strike over the crossbar. 

With Newcastle pushing for a goal in the closing stages, Albion confirmed maximum points in the final seconds through Cleary, who raced down the left wing before placing the ball into the far right-hand corner.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Max Thompson, Ciaran Thompson, Charlie Wiggett, Remi Savage (Alex Murphy 64), Matt Bondswell (Jordan Hackett 45), Nathan Carlyon (Jamie Miley 77), Lewis Miley, Ben Parkinson, Amadou Diallo (c), Rodrigo Vilca, Michael Ndiweni (James Huntley 64).

Subs not used: Will Brown.