Then Nottingham Forest appeared from nowhere and on January 8th produced the performance - and result - at the Hawthorns that frightened the shit out of the Baggies supporters.
The upstarts from Robin Hood territory were well and truly in the promotion race.
We face West Brom on Monday, and the Baggies know that defeat at St James' Park will knock a couple of wheels off their promotion bandwagon.
WEST BROM'S CURRENT FORM ...
West Brom 1 Nottingham Forest 3
JANUARY 8: Coca-Cola Championship at The Hawthorns.
Huddersfield 0 West Brom 2
JANUARY 2: FA Cup third round at the Galpharm Stadium.
Scunthorpe 1 West Brom 3
DECEMBER 28: Coca-Cola Championship at Glanford Park.
West Brom 2 Peterborough 0
DECEMBER 26: Coca-Cola Championship at The Hawthorns.
West Brom 2 QPR 2
DECEMBER 14: Coca-Cola Championship from the Hawthorns.
West Brom 0 Cardiff 2
DECEMBER 8: Coca-Cola Championship at The Hawthorns.
WEST BROM'S LAST GAME ... WBA 1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 3
WBA: Carson, Zuiverloon, Olsson, Tamas, Mattock (Koren 65), Brunt, Dorrans, Jara, Thomas, Cox (Miller 77), Moore (Bednar 46). Subs Not Used: Kiely, Cech, Mulumbu, Martis.
Nottingham Forest leapfrogged West Brom into the Coca-Cola Championship automatic promotion places courtesy of a superb performance in which they outclassed their opponents in almost every department.
The result takes Forest's unbeaten run to 18 games and is a true testament to the work done by Billy Davies in the 12 months since his appointment, when the Reds sat just one place above the drop-zone.
Dexter Blackstock volleyed the visitors into the lead after 18 minutes and although Albion were well below par, Forest displayed their true promotion credentials to send a clear warning to those fighting for promotion to the Barclays Premier League.
Radoslaw Majewski volleyed home a certain contender for goal of the season before Chris Cohen struck from the edge of the area to put Forest into a 3-0 lead by the 64th minute.
And although substitute Roman Bednar netted a consolation for the Baggies - the first goal Forest had conceded in almost nine hours of football - it was the East Midlands outfit who deservedly took the spoils.
Albion staff worked wonders ensuring the eagerly-anticipated encounter got the go-ahead as the wintry conditions played havoc with the rest of Britain's sporting calendar.
And the first 15 minutes promised plenty as snow started to fall in the Black Country although there was very little goalmouth action with wayward shooting very much the order of the day.
But all that changed as Blackstock won a corner in a tussle with Jonas Olsson and then managed to break free of Albion new-boy Gabriel Tamas before volleying Malewski's set-piece in off the near post from eight yards.
Both sides continued to show enough endeavour and attacking intent as the first half wore on to suggest more goals would be forthcoming.
And it was the visitors who were looking the more likely to find the net with some patient approach play while the Baggies were guilty of losing possession far too often.
As the half-time whistle blew it was Davies' side who were well in control of proceedings but without a second goal to show for their efforts, while the majority of the 22,873 home crowd booed their side off.
West Brom head coach Roberto Di Matteo introduced Bednar in place of the ineffective Luke Moore at the interval to try and spark a response.
But his side found themselves with a mountain to climb in the 53rd minute when they were undone by more hesitant defending amid a shaky restart.
Tamas' half-cleared header was picked up by Guy Moussi, he spread the ball out to Chris Gunter on the right and his cross to the back post was emphatically volleyed home off the crossbar by Malewski.
And the game was effectively over as a contest three minutes later as more intricate approach play was finished off with a fine strike into the bottom left corner by Cohen.
The Albion fans that left after the third goal missed their side pull one back shortly after the hour mark when Bednar converted Graham Dorrans' incisive pass across the penalty area.
The goal seemed to spur the hosts into action and it was somewhat of a defensive mission for the Reds in the final 25 minutes.
But they stood firm to maintain their unbeaten away record in the league this season and strike a psychological blow on their rivals.
NEWCASTLE UTD v WEST BROM - THE HISTORY ...
2009/2010 Sat 08 Aug West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Championship
2008/2009 Sat 07 Feb West Brom. 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
Tue 28 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 West Brom. Premier League
2005/2006 Sat 22 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. Premiership
Sun 30 Oct West Brom. 0 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2004/2005 Mon 03 Jan West Brom. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 25 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 West Brom. Premiership
2003/2004 Wed 29 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 West Brom. League Cup
after extra time, 90 minutes 1-1
2002/2003 Sun 11 May West Brom. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 05 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 West Brom. Premiership
1990/1991 Sat 04 May West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 27 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Brom. Second Division
1989/1990 Wed 11 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 West Brom. Second Division
Wed 01 Nov West Brom. 1 - 5 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Wed 25 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 West Brom. League Cup
1985/1986 Sat 11 Jan West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 14 Sep Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 West Brom. First Division
1984/1985 Sat 06 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 West Brom. First Division
Wed 26 Dec West Brom. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1977/1978 Wed 12 Apr West Brom. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 10 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 3 West Brom. First Division
1976/1977 Sat 19 Mar West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 06 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 West Brom. First Division
1973/1974 Sat 16 Feb West Brom. 0 - 3 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
1972/1973 Sat 04 Nov West Brom. 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 23 Aug Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Brom. First Division
1971/1972 Wed 03 May Newcastle Utd. 4 - 2 West Brom. First Division
Sat 11 Dec West Brom. 0 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1970/1971 Wed 28 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. First Division
Wed 02 Sep West Brom. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1969/1970 Sat 14 Mar West Brom. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Fri 06 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 West Brom. First Division
1968/1969 Sat 19 Apr West Brom. 5 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 14 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 3 West Brom. First Division
1967/1968 Mon 15 Apr West Brom. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Fri 12 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 West Brom. First Division
1966/1967 Sat 13 May West Brom. 6 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 07 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 West Brom. First Division
1965/1966 Wed 01 Sep West Brom. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 25 Aug Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 West Brom. First Division
1960/1961 Wed 14 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 West Brom. First Division
Mon 05 Sep West Brom. 6 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1959/1960 Wed 16 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 West Brom. First Division
Wed 09 Sep West Brom. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1958/1959 Sat 11 Apr West Brom. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 22 Nov Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 West Brom. First Division
1957/1958 Sat 21 Dec Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. First Division
Sat 24 Aug West Brom. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1956/1957 Wed 26 Dec Newcastle Utd. 5 - 2 West Brom. First Division
Tue 25 Dec West Brom. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1955/1956 Mon 02 Jan Newcastle Utd. 0 - 3 West Brom. First Division
Wed 07 Sep West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1954/1955 Wed 01 Sep West Brom. 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 25 Aug Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. First Division
1953/1954 Sat 20 Feb West Brom. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
Wed 16 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 7 West Brom. First Division
Wed 09 Sep West Brom. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1952/1953 Thu 01 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 5 West Brom. First Division
Wed 27 Aug West Brom. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1951/1952 Wed 23 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 4 West Brom. First Division
Wed 05 Sep West Brom. 3 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1950/1951 Wed 30 Aug West Brom. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 23 Aug Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Brom. First Division
1949/1950 Sat 18 Mar West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 26 Nov Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 West Brom. First Division
1947/1948 Thu 01 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 West Brom. Second Division
Fri 26 Dec West Brom. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1946/1947 Thu 26 Dec West Brom. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Wed 25 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 4 West Brom. Second Division
1938/1939 Wed 14 Sep Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 West Brom. Second Division
Wed 07 Sep West Brom. 5 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1937/1938 Sat 08 Jan West Brom. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
1933/1934 Sat 27 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 West Brom. First Division
Sat 16 Sep West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1932/1933 Sat 04 Mar West Brom. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 22 Oct Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. First Division
1931/1932 Sat 02 Apr West Brom. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 21 Nov Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 West Brom. First Division
1926/1927 Sat 26 Mar West Brom. 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 06 Nov Newcastle Utd. 5 - 2 West Brom. First Division
1925/1926 Sat 17 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. First Division
Sat 05 Dec West Brom. 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1924/1925 Sat 04 Apr Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 West Brom. First Division
Sat 29 Nov West Brom. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1923/1924 Sat 22 Mar West Brom. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 15 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Brom. First Division
1922/1923 Wed 14 Mar West Brom. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 14 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 West Brom. First Division
1921/1922 Sat 22 Apr West Brom. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 15 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. First Division
1920/1921 Sat 04 Sep West Brom. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 28 Aug Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Brom. First Division
1919/1920 Mon 08 Sep West Brom. 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 03 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 West Brom. First Division
1914/1915 Mon 05 Apr West Brom. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 02 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 West Brom. First Division
1913/1914 Sat 17 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 3 West Brom. First Division
Sat 20 Sep West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1912/1913 Wed 09 Apr West Brom. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 19 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Brom. First Division
1911/1912 Sat 10 Feb West Brom. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 07 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 West Brom. First Division
1903/1904 Sat 02 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 West Brom. First Division
Sat 05 Sep West Brom. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1902/1903 Sat 24 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 West Brom. First Division
Sat 27 Sep West Brom. 6 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1900/1901 Sat 19 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Brom. First Division
Sat 22 Sep West Brom. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1899/1900 Fri 29 Dec Newcastle Utd. 4 - 2 West Brom. First Division
Sat 02 Sep West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1898/1899 Sat 01 Apr West Brom. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 03 Dec Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. First Division