Slaven Bilic marked his first competitive game in charge of Albion with three points after a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest.
It was far from a perfect start for the Croation with Albion behind in just the seventh minute when Matty Cash squeezed home a long-range volley.
The goal kick-started Albion who fired back from the tricky Kyle Edwards before Matty Phillips fortitious effort gave the Baggies a half time lead.
Edwards missed a second half chance to put Albion further ahead but the Baggies were comfortable winners with Romaine Saywers and Nathan Ferguson impressing for the Throstles.
“Yes, it was pleasing in part and I am obviously happy for the win," said Bilic.
"This was a very big challenge for the team. We are not up to 100 per cent match fitness - neither are the opposition at this stage - and there is clearly more to come.
“But I was not happy with the last 10 minutes of the first half and the first maybe 20, 30 minutes of the second half.
“When the home team is losing, they have to take risks and they did and with the quality we have in the side, I expect my team to create five clear chances. We created one for Kyle Edwards. That was it. We have to do better then that.
“We looked as if we were happy to hold the 2-1 lead but that can go in a single moment. But we defended very well and I was happy with that. But we must be better when we have the chance to punish teams who are forced to take risks against us."