Birmingham 1 Albion 2 - Report and pictures
Victor Anichebe's first-half double took West Brom into the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2010.
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The striker struck on 25 and 35 minutes to settle a tense, fiercely-contested derby in a fantastic St Andrew's atmosphere.
Jonathan Grounds reduced the arrears for Blues just before half-time and the hosts piled second-half pressure on Albion but could not find an equaliser.
The game was closely contested early on but it was the Baggies who had the first attempt at goal as the ball dropped for Saido Berahino on the edge of the area and he lashed a shot into the side netting.
Moments later David Cotterill fired in a harmless effort for Blues from distance.
But the opening exchanges were notable mainly for a great atmosphere and a fine show of respect from Blues fans for Baggies legend Jeff Astle.
All four sides of St Andrew's stood and joined in the now traditional applause on nine minutes. And it was the Baggies who broke the deadlock on 25 minutes with a goal out of nothing.
Anichebe collected Berahino's through-ball and sneaked a shot inside the near post from 10 yards out when keeper Darren Randolph should have done better.
And Anichebe doubled the visitors' lead 10 minutes later with a virtual carbon copy goal.
This time he collected a Berahino pass in a slightly more central area, outmuscled Robinson as he turned and placed a shot inside the far post with the aid of a slight deflection.
As half-time approached, Stephen Gleeson tried his luck for Blues from range but his half-volley flew well wide.
Albion looked to have a decisive advantage but Blues threw the cat among the pigeons in first-half stoppage time.
Former Albion man Lloyd Dyer made the goal with a smart first-time cross from the left and Grounds converted from close range.
West Brom goals: Anichebe 25, 35
Birmingham City (4-2-3-1): Randolph, Caddis, Morrison, Robinson, Grounds; Davis (Thomas 86), Gleeson; Cotterill, Shinnie, Dyer (Gray 70), Novak (Zigic 75).
Substitutes not used: Doyle (GK), Donaldson, Reilly, Spector.
West Brom (4-4-1-1): Myhill (Foster 62), Wisdom, McAuley, Dawson, Lescott, Sessegnon (Baird 68), Yacob, Brunt, Gardner; Berahino, Anichebe (Ideye 81).
Substitutes not used: Pocognoli, Gamboa, Dorrans, Morrison.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (County Durham)
Attendance: 28,438 [/breakout]
Early in the second half Albion almost restored their two-goal advantage when Joleon Lescott met a Craig Gardner corner with a firm header but Randolph pulled off an excellent save, going high to his right to push away the effort.
Boaz Myhill made a smart save at the other end moments later, diving low to his right to beat Lee Novak's effort away from the bottom corner.
And then Lescott, who was operating at left-back, burst forward and tried an ambitious lob that drifted just wide.
Baggies goalkeeper Boaz Myhill dived bravely at the feet of Dyer as he raced through on goal, but he injured his hand in the process and had to be replaced by Ben Foster, who received a warm ovation on his return to his former club.
And Blues should have drawn level with 19 minutes to play when Paul Caddis crossed from the right and Andrew Shinnie arrived unmarked to send a header just over.
With 12 minutes remaining Foster had to be alert to tip over a right-footed effort from Blues substitute Demarai Gray.
As the clock ticked down, Randolph misjudged a through-ball by substitute Brown Ideye and allowed Chris Brunt to turn it towards goal but the skipper's effort hit the post and bounced clear.
Foster then had to make another smart save to keep out another long-range Gray effort as Blues threw the kitchen sink at Albion but the visitors just held firm.
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