Albion 1 Southampton 0 - Report and pictures
Saido Berahino's second-minute rocket gave West Brom a huge win as he fired them to the 30-point mark in their battle for survival.
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The young striker netted his 17th goal of the season with a stunning half-volley but both he and fellow striker Brown Ideye limped off to give boss Tony Pulis a headache for next week's two derbies against Villa.
However, Pulis will still be delighted with another three points which leave him with just one defeat from 10 games in charge.
Albion dominated the first half before defending well in the second for a seventh clean sheet under Pulis.
Unchanged from the goalless draw at Sunderland, Albion made a perfect start when Berahino blasted them ahead inside two minutes.
Craig Dawson rose with Maya Yoshida to meet a Chris Brunt free-kick and the Saints defender could only head it down to Berahino, who rifled in a stunning half-volley from just inside the penalty area.
And it could have got better for the hosts on 10 minutes when Berahino skipped through the middle and tried to fee Craig Gardner as he darted in from the left, but Brown Ideye accidentally impeded his team-mate and the chance went begging.
Albion goal: Berahino 2'
Albion: Foster, Dawson, McAuley, Lescott, Brunt, Morrison (Sessegnon 72'), Yacob, Fletcher, Gardner, Ideye (Baird 87'), Berahino (Mulumbu 56').
Subs not used: Myhill, Wisdom, Olsson, McManaman.
Saints: Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Gardos (Elia 24'), Bertrand, Wanyama (S Davis 45'), Schneiderlin, Tadi? (Long 74'), Mané, Pellè.
Subs not used: K Davis, Djuri?i?, Ward-Prowse, Targett.
Booked: Wanyama (foul 29')
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire) (Graham Scott 45')
Attendance: 25,303 [/breakout]
The Baggies continued to make the running but a couple right-wing corners came to nothing.
Another chance arrived for the Baggies on the half-hour as Craig Gardner beat the visitors' offside trap and raced into the box to meet a big up-and-under.
His first touch was good but his second was poor and the ball ran away from him as he stumbled.
Moments later Southampton's first chance fell to Sadio Mane, who fired over from the edge of the area after a run and cross from early substitute Elijero Elia.
Southampton came out for the second half with renewed purpose and the Baggies suffered a further blow 10 minutes after the restart when Berahino went down injured and had to be replaced by Youssouf Mulumbu.
The Saints continued to press but they struggled to find a way to goal.
Morgan Schneiderlin sent a free-kick wide of the target and had another saved by Ben Foster.
And Ryan Bertrand saw his left-wing cross bundled past the far post for a corner by Baggies left-back Brunt.
In the dying moments a loose ball dropped in the penalty area for Graziano Pelle but he fired straight at Foster.
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