A last-minute own goal gave Town's U23s a well-deserved win against West Brom in the Premier League Cup despite being reduced to 10 men, Aaron Drinan and Ben Morris (pictured) having scored the earlier goals with French defender Chris Goteni the man sent off.

Ipswich took the lead early in the second half through Drinan but were forced to play 38 minutes with 10 men after Goteni was dismissed for bringing down Sam Field, who netted the resultant penalty.

But the Blues fought back and were quickly back in front through a stunning Ben Morris goal. Town dominated with 10 men, but the Baggies found a way back when substitute Jamie Soule levelled with 12 minutes remaining.

However, Ipswich youngsters’ desire to win showed until the end and they were granted victory when Nathan Ferguson turned Morris’s low ball into his own net in the 90th minute.

The game got off to a cagey start with neither team able to create a clear chance in the opening 15 minutes, however, the Baggies looked the more threatening and soon started to test the Blues defence.

Euan Pierce took the ball into the Ipswich area in the 17th minute and managed to evade Barry Cotter’s sliding tackle before Michael Crowe blocked his shot at the near post. The ball went straight back into the path of Pierce who picked out Nick Clayton-Phillips at the back post, but the left winger saw his shot blocked on the line from close range.

West Brom threatened again straight away, this time Pierce headed wide of the right post following a freekick as Town struggled to cause the visitors any problems.

The Blues began to grow into the game just shy of the half hour mark as Drinan had a goal-bound shot blocked from trialist Ben Stephens’s corner, with the clearance falling to Cotter, whose effort from the edge of the box was pushed out for a corner by Alex Palmer.

The half slumped back into its previous pattern and chances were scarce, but a defensive header from Goteni gifted Pierce possession with the striker getting the ball to Alex Bradley on the edge of the area, whose shot was blocked for a corner.

The best chance of the half fell to Drinan with a minute remaining after Ben Folami played him in from the right, but the striker’s shot from inside the area was blocked for a corner.

Town got off to the perfect start after the break as West Brom failed to clear a ball into the box, allowing Drinan to shoot. His first effort was blocked but the striker was immediately given another chance and slotted into the net.

However, only five minutes after the Blues took the lead Goteni saw red and West Brom were awarded a penalty.

Field chased a long ball over the top into the area pursued by Goteni and the centre-back’s clumsy challenge brought Field down in the box.

Referee Matty Buonassisi produced a straight red and Field sent Crowe the wrong way from the spot to draw the scores level.

Four minutes later Ipswich took an unlikely lead. Stephens, in his second trial game for the Blues, played a perfectly weighted pass across the pitch to Morris who lashed the ball back across goal and into the left corner.

Ten-man Town continued to create chances but Tristan Nydam’s heavy touch allowed Palmer to collect at his feet whilst Drinan’s right-footed effort was comfortably held by the Baggies’ keeper.

The Blues had another opportunity to extend their lead in the 72nd minute when Drinan’s flicked header went into the path of Stephens, but his volley dipped straight at Palmer from the edge of the box, making it easy for the keeper to collect.

Despite Town having had the better of the chances West Brom levelled with 12 minutes left.

Clayton-Phillips played the ball to Soule in the area with Crowe’s save pushing the ball back to him for a second attempt which hit Nydam and went into the bottom right corner.

Stephens came close to grabbing a last-gasp winner, but Palmer produced a great reaction save to push his header over the bar.

But Town continued to look dangerous, despite Drinan having to fill in at centre-back for Cotter who looked to have pulled his hamstring.

And right at the death the Blues won it. Morris powered down the right wing and put in a stinging low ball that was turned in by Ferguson who was trying to block ahead of Drinan, who otherwise would have turned in his second of the match.

The victory was enough to draw Gerard Nash's side level on points with Sheffield United in second place in their Premier League Cup group but needing the Blades to lose heavily in their final match at Aston Villa - which was postponed this afternoon - if they are to progress to the last 16.

U23s: Crowe, McLoughlin, Cotter (McKendry 84), Goteni, Nydam, Morris, Blanchfield (Clements 45), Sagaf (Ndaba 57), Folami, Stephens, Drinan. Unused: Ware, Lankester.

West Brom: Palmer, Wilding, Ferguson, McCourt, Harmon (Tulloch 70), Harper, Field (Brown 75), Bradley, Azaz, Clayton-Phillips, Pierce (Soule 62). Unused: Przybek, Hall.

Photo: TWTD