Albion secured a much-needed win and gave their travelling fans plenty to cheer and sing about in the process.
And cheer and sing they did.
In a few moments after Danny Welbeck scored their second goal of a 2-0 success at Brentford, the chant went from “We are staying up.”
To “Europe again.”
And then to “We’re going to win the league.”
All with a bit of irony and humour. And all good fun after a bleak midwinter which has been crying out for something to laugh about.
Diego Gomez cracked home the opener on half an hour, Welbeck then accepting a gift on 45 minutes.
And the whole thing revolved around a midfield masterclass from James Milner, who barely put a foot or pass wrong in boots bearing the number 654 – his tally of Prem appearances.
On this evidence, there are plenty more to come.
From a deep-lying midfield role, he orchestrated a performance which was competitive, organised, had moments of quality and which never really lapsed until a couple of very late moments from which the Bees could not profit.
Gomez’s opener ironically came in what might been another ‘if only’ Albion moment.
Ferdu Kadioglu sent a superb curler high past Caoimhin Kelleher but saw it smack down off the underside of the bar.
Albion fans had about one second to bemoan their luck – it will have felt longer – before Gomez drilled home the rebound with the sort of unerring finish from him we have craved to compliment the non-stop graft.
Brentford substitute Nathan Collins had only just gone on as sub when his ridiculously weak attempt clear Jack Hinshelwood’s cross allowed Welbeck to thump home the second.
The hosts were expected to respond after the break but Albion, with Mats Wieffer making an impressive return, stood firm.
And then, with the win almost secure, they survived two moments which might have made it all nervy.
Mikkel Damsgaard lofted a poor attempt to Bart Verbruggen and the keeper then reacted superbly to swat away a rebound off Joel Veltman which was heading towards his own net.