Albion's second-half comeback arrived too late to prevent a 3-2 defeat by Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
Josh Brownhill, Andreas Weimann and Jack Hunt fired the Robins into an early lead, before Dwight Gayle and Jay Rodriguez goals piled pressure on the hosts.
The Robins took the lead from their first attack of the evening. Weimann played a pass to Brownhill who slotted home with a neat finish.
Bristol City soon doubled their advantage. Weimann headed across the face of goal to Brownhill who stabbed home from close range.
Jack Hunt added a third for the Robins, heading into the roof of the net at the back post from a Jay Dasilva cross.
Albion’s Kyle Edwards fizzed a free-kick at goal from a tight angle just after the half-hour mark but City keeper Max O’Leary did well to tip over.
The Baggies soon had another chance. Rodriguez chested a cross down and into the path of Gayle, who rifled a low volley at O’Leary but the Robins stopper blocked with his feet to keep Albion out.
Marlon Pack attempted a volley at goal from distance for the Robins but Sam Johnstone was equal to it. Nathan Baker headed goalwards from a deep cross, but Johnstone again turned it away.
Just before the break the Baggies nearly snatched a way back into the game. Edwards crossed, Gayle volleyed, but a Robins defender blocked what would have been a certain goal.
After the restart, Gayle met Johansen’s free-kick to nod past O’Leary, registering his 20th goal of the season in the process.
Gayle tried for his second but this time headed wide from a corner, while Dasilva hit the post for the Robins.
It was all Albion by now.
Gayle again troubled the Robins goal with a 20-yard shot that deflected narrowly wide, before being denied from close range by an impressive O’Leary save.
A long Gayle throw-in inspired Albion’s second. The striker launched the ball into the Robins’ box with Dawson flicking on to Rodriguez who slammed home from a few yards out.
Kieran Gibbs saw his late header saved by O'Leary after Johansen lifted a cross into his path.
ALBION: Johnstone; Holgate, Dawson, Bartley, Townsend (Gibbs 73); Johansen, Livermore, Harper (Robson-Kanu 62); Edwards (Adarabioyo 45), Gayle, Rodriguez.
Substitutes: Bond, Mears, Brunt, Leko.
