West Brom edged out Scunthorpe to notch up their fourth successive league win and depose Newcastle as Championship leaders on goal difference.
Roman Bednar gave the Baggies an early lead when he slotted in a close-range effort from Robert Koren's pass.
The visitors struggled to stamp their authority on the game, but Scunthorpe failed to make the breakthrough.
And substitute Gianni Zuiverloon sealed the points late on after good work by Bednar to send the Baggies top.
Albion enjoyed the bulk of the possession throughout, but struggled to carve out clear-cut chances.
Yet they did enough to see off a Scunthorpe side that had captain Cliff Byrne sent off late on, and took full advantage of Newcastle's shock 3-0 defeat at Derby as they extended their unbeaten run to six games.
Bednar's classy opener was created by Koren, who centred from the byline for the Czech striker to back-flick home on the turn.
It was Bednar's ninth goal of the season, but the forward is not only about goals and four minutes from time he set up Zuiverloon, who sent a lofted finish over Joe Murphy.
Scunthorpe rode their luck at times, but their hopes of an equaliser were hit when Brendan Moloney was injured and had to limp off.
Matt Sparrow went close to getting them back on terms with a volley that edged wide, but by the time Byrne was dismissed for a late foul on Andy Slory the game was already beyond them.
West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo:
"The table is important at the end of the season, there is no reason to get carried away now.
"I believe that everything will be decided in the last couple of games of the season. I don't think anyone will pull away.
"We didn't expect an easy game against Scunthorpe and they made it hard for us but they didn't quite hurt us.
"The first goal settled us down and fortunately the second killed the game off."
Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins:
"I am very pleased with the players. They have realised how hard they will have to work against a good side.
"It is a level they want to get to and it is a great learning curve for the younger boys.
"I know it is about winning but as long as my players work very hard and give the best they can then I will be happy.
"No-one would expect Scunthorpe to come to West Brom and give them a game but we gave them a really good game."
90:00+3:11 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00+1:49 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Rob Jones.
90:00+1:28 Graham Dorrans sends in a cross, Michael O'Connor manages to make a clearance.
90:00+0:41 Simon Cox takes a shot. Joe Murphy makes a save. Graham Dorrans decides to take a short corner.
87:35 Graham Dorrans has a direct shot on goal from the free kick. Corner taken by Graham Dorrans from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Josh Wright.
87:35 Sent off Red card for Cliff Byrne.
87:07 Cliff Byrne gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Abdoulaye Meite.
85:57 Assist by Roman Bednar.
85:57 GOAL - Gianni Zuiverloon:West Brom 2 - 0 Scunthorpe Gianni Zuiverloon finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. West Brom 2-0 Scunthorpe.
79:40 Substitution Chris Brunt leaves the field to be replaced by Gianni Zuiverloon.
79:40 Substitution Sam Togwell leaves the field to be replaced by Grant McCann.
79:40 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Mattock by Matthew Sparrow. Scott Carson takes the free kick.
78:13 The ball is swung over by Matthew Sparrow, Jonas Olsson makes a clearance.
76:38 Foul by Cliff Byrne on Abdoulaye Meite, free kick awarded. Graham Dorrans crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, clearance made by Rob Jones.
Correction - 76:38 Cliff Byrne gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andwele Slory. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Graham Dorrans from left wing, Rob Jones manages to make a clearance.
Correction - 73:15 Substitution Andwele Slory on for Frank Nouble.
Correction - 73:15 Michael O'Connor takes a outswinging corner to the near post, David Mirfin takes a shot. Michael O'Connor sends in a cross.
73:15 Substitution (West Brom) makes a substitution, with Abdoulaye Meite coming on for Frank Nouble.
73:15 Michael O'Connor takes a outswinging corner to the near post, David Mirfin takes a shot. The ball is sent over by Michael O'Connor.
72:27 Shot by Graham Dorrans. Matthew Sparrow gets a block in. Corner taken by Graham Dorrans from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Josh Wright.
71:39 Inswinging corner taken by Graham Dorrans from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Rob Jones.
69:47 The ball is sent over by Chris Brunt, save by Joe Murphy. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Graham Dorrans played to the near post, Rob Jones manages to make a clearance.
69:30 The ball is swung over by Simon Cox.
69:16 Josh Wright delivers the ball, save by Scott Carson.
68:13 Chris Brunt has an effort at goal from 20 yards. Save made by Joe Murphy.
66:02 The ball is crossed by Matthew Sparrow, save by Scott Carson.
64:36 Substitution Simon Cox joins the action as a substitute, replacing Robert Koren.
64:36 Chris Brunt has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.
63:51 The ball is sent over by Michael O'Connor, clearance made by Jonas Olsson.
63:25 Foul by Sam Togwell on Chris Brunt, free kick awarded. Gabriel Tamas restarts play with the free kick.
62:29 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Chris Brunt from the right by-line. Chris Brunt sends in a cross.
61:11 Substitution Martyn Woolford comes on in place of Donal McDermott.
61:11 Gary Hooper produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.
60:01 A cross is delivered by Frank Nouble, Rob Jones manages to make a clearance.
59:19 Chris Brunt produces a cross, save by Joe Murphy.
58:41 Frank Nouble delivers the ball, Matthew Sparrow manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Chris Brunt played to the near post, clearance by David Mirfin.
57:58 Michael O'Connor delivers the ball, Effort on goal by Sam Togwell from 20 yards. Blocked by Jonas Olsson. Short corner taken by Michael O'Connor from the right by-line.
55:51 Shot by Chris Brunt. Joe Murphy makes a save.
53:40 Graham Dorrans takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Blocked by Sam Togwell. Corner taken short by Graham Dorrans. Shot by Gabriel Tamas. Matthew Sparrow gets a block in. Corner taken left-footed by Chris Brunt from the right by-line to the near post, Gabriel Tamas takes a shot. Blocked by Rob Jones. Corner from right by-line taken by Robert Koren.
52:35 Chris Brunt is adjudged to have handled the ball. Josh Wright restarts play with the free kick.
49:54 Joe Mattock sends in a cross, clearance made by Rob Jones.
49:18 Gary Hooper gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jonas Olsson. Scott Carson takes the free kick.
48:50 Chris Brunt handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Joe Murphy takes the free kick.
47:56 The referee blows for offside against Gary Hooper. Free kick taken by Scott Carson.
45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+2:19 The whistle is blown to end the first half.
45:00+1:39 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Mattock by Gary Hooper. Direct free kick taken by Scott Carson.
45:00+0:09 Graham Dorrans takes the free kick.
45:00+0:09 Booking Matthew Sparrow goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
45:00+0:05 Free kick awarded for a foul by Matthew Sparrow on Graham Dorrans.
42:47 Foul by Roman Bednar on David Mirfin, free kick awarded. Josh Wright takes the direct free kick.
42:08 Josh Wright has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.
40:04 Frank Nouble produces a drilled right-footed shot from 18 yards. Save by Joe Murphy. Graham Dorrans takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Rob Jones.
39:02 Drilled left-footed shot by Chris Brunt. Blocked by Rob Jones. Centre by Gonzalo Jara, clearance made by Rob Jones.
38:10 Robert Koren has an effort at goal from 20 yards. Joe Murphy makes a save.
37:09 Graham Dorrans concedes a free kick for a foul on Donal McDermott. Free kick crossed right-footed by Michael O'Connor, save by Scott Carson.
36:09 Effort on goal by Donal McDermott from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.
34:37 Robert Koren gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rob Jones. Joe Murphy takes the free kick. Shot by Michael O'Connor. Save by Scott Carson.
31:48 Corner taken right-footed by Graham Dorrans from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by David Mirfin. Corner taken right-footed by Graham Dorrans.
31:40 Chris Brunt crosses the ball, clearance by Josh Wright.
31:20 Frank Nouble challenges Matthew Sparrow unfairly and gives away a free kick. Rob Jones takes the free kick.
31:11 The ball is swung over by Cliff Byrne, clearance by Jonas Olsson.
29:02 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gabriel Tamas on Gary Hooper. Michael O'Connor delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance made by Jonas Olsson.
27:29 Handball decision goes against Roman Bednar. Direct free kick taken by Joe Murphy.
24:36 Effort from the edge of the box by Matthew Sparrow goes wide of the left-hand post.
21:17 Substitution Brendan Moloney leaves the field to be replaced by Ian Morris.
21:17 Booking Chris Brunt is booked.
20:54 Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Brunt on Brendan Moloney. Joe Murphy restarts play with the free kick.
18:07 Corner taken right-footed by Gary Hooper to the near post, Header on goal by Rob Jones from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
16:47 The referee blows for offside against Gary Hooper. Jonas Olsson restarts play with the free kick.
16:08 Unfair challenge on Frank Nouble by Sam Togwell results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Graham Dorrans.
15:04 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Scott Carson.
14:13 Gary Hooper fouled by Roman Bednar, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Joe Murphy.
12:59 Robert Koren provided the assist for the goal.
12:59 GOAL - Roman Bednar:West Brom 1 - 0 Scunthorpe Roman Bednar finds the back of the net with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. West Brom 1-0 Scunthorpe.
12:52 Robert Koren crosses the ball,
12:35 The ball is crossed by Graham Dorrans, clearance by Rob Jones.
11:54 Effort from 25 yards by Frank Nouble. Save by Joe Murphy. Corner taken right-footed by Graham Dorrans from the left by-line to the near post, David Mirfin manages to make a clearance.
10:44 Robert Koren fouled by Michael O'Connor, the ref awards a free kick. Jonas Olsson takes the direct free kick.
9:58 Joe Mattock has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the target.
7:11 Shot on goal by Roman Bednar from just inside the area goes over the target.
3:58 Effort on goal by Sam Togwell from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.
1:39 Gonzalo Jara delivers the ball.
0:31 The ball is sent over by Graham Dorrans, Rob Jones makes a clearance.
0:00 The referee gets the game underway.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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