Pictures and analysis of West Brom 2 Swansea 1

Where there’s life, there’s hope, and West Brom are not about to let their European dream die just yet.

Having talked the talk since hitting their initial 40-point Premier League target, the Baggies walked the walk against Swansea to remind their rivals they are in no mood to down tools.

While the Swans felt the full force of the Baggies’ impressive statement, the message will have echoed around their other rivals in the top half of the Premier League.

On Saturday’s evidence, Steve Clarke’s men remain genuinely determined to end a remarkable campaign with even more glory. And Lady Luck appears to have thrown her weight behind the Baggies’ challenge, too.

While Albion were decent value for their three points against the impressive Welsh outfit, they were honest enough to admit the victory owed plenty to good fortune.

If Clarke and Co can match Saturday’s standards consistently between now and May and catch a few more of the breaks they enjoyed against the Swans, it is impossible to rule them out completely when it comes to European qualification.

Having fallen behind against a visiting side they had never gone close to beating in the Premier League, Albion would have found it easy to throw in the towel with relegation concerns long since banished and the European spots a distance away.

Instead, they rallied to level before half-time and then forced the Swans back after the break to claim the win thanks to a couple of freak incidents.

A Europa League spot remains an unlikely destination for Clarke and his players. They will require a stunning end to the campaign and a little more good fortune from the FA Cup.

But, with their customary end-of-season survival pressure absent this time around, they are operating with a freedom and drive that suggests they will do all they can to keep up their own end of the bargain.

For a while, Saturday’s game looked to be following a familiar course.

Swansea started fluently and the Baggies, who have twice been blown away at the Liberty Stadium and once at home by the Welsh outfit in the last two seasons, were left chasing shadows in the opening 20 minutes.

The Swans’ slick passing and clever movement put them well on top and brought groans from the home crowd.

And Michu should have given his team some reward for their impressive start when he raced clear but screwed a shot just wide. Frustratingly, it was an Albion old-boy who was the unlikely scorer of the opening goal.

Luke Moore, who had rarely threatened to deliver on his undoubted talent while with the Baggies, had already created Michu’s glorious opportunity.

Michu he popped up in the home box to flick a header over his shoulder and past goalkeeper Ben Foster from Jonathan De Guzman’s left-wing corner.

The Swans were good value for their lead and, with their psychological advantage against the Baggies well established, they must have been confident of another comfortable win.

But that was when Clarke’s side showed their own supporters they have lost little of their competitive edge.

They were level just seven minutes after the Swansea goal as Romelu Lukaku continued his own impressive goalscoring form, sliding in at the near post to turn home an excellent first-time cross from Graham Dorrans.

And, having drawn level just before half-time, the Baggies flew from the blocks after the interval with Lukaku hammering a good chance of his own wide of the target then setting up James Morrison to fire straight at goalkeeper Michel Vorm.

Lukaku should have added his second from the penalty spot after Wayne Routledge’s shove on Morrison but the Belgian fired too close to Vorm.

That was when luck took over to give the Baggies the results their efforts had merited.

First, Gareth McAuley’s goalbound header from Chris Brunt’s corner was nodded away from goal by Angel Rangel, only for a ricochet off De Guzman to take it in for the Baggies’ second goal.

And then, with the clock ticking down, Swans substitute Roland Lamah had his joyous celebrations cut short by an offside flag after his close-range finish.

Replays confirmed what Lamah knew – that the ball found its way to him off two Baggies players with no Swans team-mates close to the action.

It's the kind of help the Baggies might need to end their memorable campaign on a massive high.

But more of Saturday’s spirit will give them a fighting chance.

By Steve Madeley