Albion secured a fantastic result on Saturday – and it had little to do with the FA Cup.

But the third round victory at Huddersfield did serve to illustrate graphically the value of the weekend’s biggest triumph, which had been sealed hours earlier.

Graham Dorrans penned a new long-term contract before the match with the Terriers. Then the young Scot proceeded to show just why that signature was easily the most significant moment of the weekend.

On the pitch it was, to use a well-worn cup cliche, ‘job done’ for Roberto Di Matteo’s men. With one or two exceptions the Italian’s players produced thoroughly professional displays to book an ultimately comfortable passage into the fourth round draw.

Yet in order to turn a dominant, efficient display into an impressive away victory the Baggies needed a match-winner.

Once again they turned to their new ‘go to’ man, who celebrated his long-term commitment to the cause with another fabulous display of his special quality.

In less than a year Dorrans has gone from unknown Scottish kid in the ‘underbelly’ of Tony Mowbray’s squad to pivotal playmaker at the heart of Di Matteo’s. Saturday provided a further example of just why Albion’s hierarchy were so keen to tie up the 22-year-old’s second new contract in just nine months.

The majority of his colleagues produced perfectly solid performances, as the team with English football’s best away record held sway from the outset against side with the country’s best home statistics.

Yet while they passed neatly, moved intelligently and threatened to break down the Terriers’ resistance, it was Dorrans whose quality shone like a beacon.

Ultimately, it was Dorrans who got the job done as Di Matteo and Co began to fear the replay that would have represented the worst possible outcome. While most were solid, Dorrans was superb. While many threatened, Dorrans struck. That is why the £150,000 signing of two Januarys ago has become the central figure in the club’s season.

His approach to Saturday’s Cup tie set the tone for the win that his 77th-minute goal eventually helped to secure. Dorrans’ tireless energy provided extra impetus to the visitors while his ability to find space asked constant questions of the hosts.

When the game was heading for a frustrating stalemate with 13 minutes remaining, Dorrans’ stamina and composure in front of goal provided the vital first breakthrough. All with the debilitating virus that had limited his role in training ahead of the match.

Given the illness that struck the Baggies’ build-up and the loss of the in-form Abdoulaye Meite to international commitments, Di Matteo would certainly have taken any brand of progress to the fourth round.

That they secured the win with relative ease and some moments of panache was a pleasant bonus for the Italian, who must already have had half an eye on the huge fortnight of Championship action that comes next.

The head coach treated the competition he twice won as a player with a large degree of respect, but still there were decisions designed to protect key assets ahead of the league programme to follow. Three of his six team changes were enforced while a fourth was desired, as goalkeeper Scott Carson returned from suspension.

But still there was the calculated gamble to leave both Luke Moore and Jerome Thomas in reserve with both among the substitutes, ready to be called upon in a crisis. In the event there were no such alarms and the duo were able to nurse fragile muscles from the safety of the sidelines. Without them, the Baggies edged the opening half. But a classic it wasn’t.

In fact, the first 45 minutes would have been remembered for Dorrans’ one glaring error, had the midfield man not put things right later on.

That aberration arrived on 14 minutes when the Scot sprang the Huddersfield offside trap and escaped the attentions of his marker to ghost to the near post to meet Chris Brunt’s cross. Yet, having done the rest right, Dorrans somehow helped the ball over the crossbar with the goal gaping.

A mishit Jordan Rhodes shot and two near-misses from distance by Brunt were the only other moments of note before the break.

Thankfully, the match improved a touch as a spectacle after the restart and chances soon arrived at both ends with Marek Cech rattling the Terriers’ woodwork with a splendid volley before Carson made a brave block to deny Gary Roberts.

Michael Collins side-footed wide when he should have tested Carson and was finally made to pay with 13 minutes remaining, as Albion’s superiority told at last.

The visitors sprang with pace from a Huddersfield corner, substitute Robert Koren and Roman Bednar combined to feed Brunt on halfway, who delayed his pass perfectly as the all-action Dorrans charged forward. The midfielder raced clear of back-peddling defenders and kept his cool to place a shot past goalkeeper Alex Smithies.

Five minutes later, any lingering nerves were calmed when Brunt again displayed a clarity of thought and picked out substitute Chris Wood, who sped clear and beat Smithies with the aid of a slight deflection to make it 2-0.

In an afternoon of relative inactivity, Carson had to earn his corn in the final minute to preserve his clean sheet after flying high to his right to keep out a powerful drive from Tony Kay.

But by then Albion’s work was done and attentions had turned to a vital double-header that could play a critical role in the destiny of their season.

The young man with the special talent who stole the show on Saturday will be nursed back to health in time for a massive period of his team’s campaign. Because Dorrans has a massive part to play. In the next two weeks. And the huge months ahead.