Barnet’s pre-season kicked off with a defeat, as Hal Robson-Kanu’s double and a strike from Kyle Edwards secured West Bromwich Albion a comfortable 3-0 win at the Hive.

The match was John Still’s first back in charge of the Bees and saw the 68-year-old hand starts to new signings Mark Cousins, Cheye Alexander, Callum Reynolds, Craig Robson, Andre Boucaud and Dan Sparkes.

Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion boss Darren Moore named a strong starting line-up, which included Gareth Barry, Chris Brunt, Matt Phillips, Salomon Rondon and Joy Rodriguez alongside free agents Kieran Richardson and Martin Cranie, who are both training with the Baggies.

In a glorious day at the Hive, which saw temperatures reach 30 degrees, it was the Bees who started brightly with Shaquile Coulthirst firing just wide of the target after neat build up play involving Jack Taylor and Elliott Johnson, who made his return from injury after 11 months out.

Coulthirst was heavily involved for John Still’s men early on and he then forced a comfortable save from Aiden Palmer from 20 yards.

The Baggies, who will play in the Championship this season following their relegation from the Premier League, came back into the game as the match approached half time, with Rondon having an effort cleared off the line and Phillips sending a powerful strike wide of the post.

Both teams made changes at the interval but it was Darren Moore’s men who opened the scoring with just over 20 minutes remaining, when substitute Edwards cut-in and curled an effort into the bottom corner.

Robson-Kanu then doubled West Brom’s advantage from the penalty spot when he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way after being fouled inside the area and the Wales international made it three moments later, when he converted Rayhaan Tulloch's pull-back in the 77th minute.

Barnet almost pulled one back late on through Ephron Mason-Clark, but his effort from 25-yards was well saved by Brad House.

The Bees will return to action on Saturday, when Fulham’s U23s visit the Hive with kick-off at 3pm.

Barnet: Cousins (GK), Alexander, Johnson, Reynolds, Robson, Sweeney, Kyei, Boucaud, Sparkes, J. Taylor, Coulthirst.

Barnet subs: Fonguck, Trialist One, Adams, Barham, Payne, Pascal, Mason-Clark, Tutonda, Syla, Shomotun, Sule.

West Brom: Palmer (GK) (House 60); Wilson (Ferguson 60), Fitzwater (Jameson 60), Cranie (O'Shea 55), Richardson (Melbourne HT); Phillips (Edwards HT), Barry (Harper HT), Brunt (Bradley HT), Leko (Clayton-Phillips 60); Rodriguez (Tulloch 60), Rondon (Robson-Kanu HT).

Referee: Josh Smith

Attendance: 456.