George Campbell scored a priceless winner as West Brom eased their Sky Bet Championship relegation fears with a deserved 1-0 victory over Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
The decisive moment came in the 26th minute when Campbell met Callum Styles' right-wing corner with a powerful far-post header that crossed the line despite attempts to clear by the home defence.
Cheered on by a sell-out contingent of travelling supporters, the Baggies defended their lead with few alarms against a Robins team for whom the end of an ultimately disappointing season cannot come soon enough.
Home fans chanted 'sack the board', while at the other end the final whistle was greeted with wild scenes of celebration.
Albion looked the hungrier side in a first half low on quality and deserved their lead at the break.
They had the first attempt on goal when Josh Maja sent a low shot narrowly wide in the fourth minute.
Adam Randell fired wide from distance for City, but Gerhard Struber's team failed to play with sufficient tempo and often seemed content to fire hopeful balls in the direction of striker Emil Riis.
Campbell's goal came as no surprise and Josh Griffiths had just one anxious moment when required to keep out Mark Sykes' near-post header from Tomi Horvat's 28th-minute corner.
Jayson Molumby sent a low shot inches wide for West Brom two minutes before the half-time whistle, which was greeted by loud booing from Bristol City fans already dismayed at seeing the club's play-off challenge fizzle out.
Struber responded by sending on substitutes Sinclair Armstrong, Cameron Pring and Max Bird at the start of the second half.
But Albion were soon on the front foot again, playing towards their massed ranks of travelling fans.
Molumby and Aune Heggebo went close before a rare raid from the home side saw Ross McCrorie's powerful drive parried at his near post by Griffiths in the 57th minute.
There were more loud jeers from Robins supporters when, from an advanced position, the ball was played all the way back to goalkeeper Radek Vitek.
Danny Imray had a low drive from distance saved at full stretch by Vitek, who had to make another diving stop to deny Isaac Price as Albion continued to look the more dangerous side.
Armstrong almost created an unlikely equaliser when bursting clear on the left and crossing for fellow substitute Delano Burgzorg, but he failed to make any contact as the ball flashed across the six-yard box.
Bristol City's Gerhard Struber:
"I fully understand how the fans feel because I am really disappointed with the efforts of some players today.
"When the supporters pay for their tickets, they are entitled to expect certain basics from their team, which were not there today. Our football was flat and so far from the face we like to show to our fans.
"I have left the players in no doubt about my feelings. We need to use the international break to rediscover our focus and that means working super hard in every training session.
"We have many injury problems, but they had nothing to do with the performance and we cannot make them an excuse."
West Brom's James Morrison:
"We all know what football can do to you if you start getting carried away and, while we want to enjoy the moment, we actually need to work even harder over the remaining games.
"That will be my message to the players. Our fans have stuck with us over a long period without a success on the road, so it was great to see the scenes at the end of the game and share in them.
"But we have achieved nothing yet. A four-point gap to the relegation places and back-to-back wins gives us something to build on and no more than that.
"Again today I am very proud of what I considered a top performance from the lads. The fight and determination, plus the level of togetherness were just what is required away from home in the Championship."
