Albion’s 12-game unbeaten run came to an end with a 2-1 defeat at Watford on Sunday afternoon.
Vakoun Bayo’s double just about earned the Hornets all three Sky Bet Championship points, despite Jayson Molumby’s 68th minute goal.
Carlos Corberán’s return to action to face a Hawthorns clash against Bristol City next weekend.
The head coach made two changes from the Coventry win, as Kyle Bartley and Uros Racic were named in his XI.
Watford went close to an opener when Rocco Vata smashed the crossbar after 15 minutes, with Alex Palmer also gathering Giorgi Chakvetadze’s low attempt.
Albion were creating chances too, though. Uros Racic and Darnell Furlong sent efforts off-target, while Karlan Grant also forced Daniel Bachmann into a stop.
But it was the hosts that edged ahead 10 minutes before the break when Bayo headed home the opening goal.
Still, the Baggies tried to notch a leveller and went very close via Callum Styles’ shot - which ended up just wide - and Grant, who just couldn’t get a finish away from close-range during stoppage-time.
Watford doubled their advantage almost immediately following the interval, Bayo securing his brace by volleying past Palmer, despite Albion calls for a foul during the build-up.
A combination of Kyle Bartley and Torbjorn Heggem then prevented the Hornets netting a third, the defenders heroically blocking Kwadwo Baah’s goal-bound attempt to stay in the match.
And the visitors were soon rewarded, pulling one back courtesy of Molumby’s second strike this season.
Albion searched for another in the final stages, Darnell Furlong having a 93rd minute header clawed away, yet an equaliser ultimately never arrived and they suffered a first defeat since October 1.
Albion: Palmer; Furlong, Holgate, Bartley (Frabotta 65), Heggem, Styles (Johnston 46); Fellows, Racic (Mowatt 65), Molumby (Wallace 78), Grant; Maja (Swift 65).
Substitutes: Wildsmith, Diakite, Dobbin, Cole.