TWO first half strikes left Aidy Bootroyd's Watford with a mountain to climb in the second period as the Hornets fell to their first home defeat of the season.
The Baggies came to Vicarage Road with just one away win to their name so far this campaign, but two first half strikes within minutes of one another gave them a cushion in the second period and the win will now breed confidence for the Midlands based side.
The Hornets tried to find a breakthrough but the Baggies defence stood strong throughout to keep the red hot partnership of Darius Henderson and Marlon King at bay.
Boothroyd stuck with the same starting eleven who triumphed at Crystal Palace on Monday evening. Ex-Hornet Paul Robinson received a warm welcome from the large crowd inside the Vic, on his first playing return to the club where his league career started.
There was of course also a former Watford man in the West Brom attack - and he demonstrated his threat with a strike during the first half. Kevin Phillips showed why he is still one of the most dangerous front men around outside the Premiership - and the ex-Golden Boy looks to be building a solid partnership with strike partner Ishmael Miller.
The Hornets made a speedy start to the top of the table affair with King looking to continue his recent purple patch. Youngster John-Joe O'Toole was also making forward bursts whenever possible from the centre of the park.
The Golden Boys were struck an early blow when centre half Jay DeMerit was forced from the park, the American was stretchered from the field and Aidy Mariappa slotted into defence.
The Baggies looked comfortable in possession and swept the ball around the park quickly - skipper Jonathan Greening was floating from left to central midfield and looking to set up attacks. However for the first 25 minutes or so the Baggies had few chances as Boothroyd's men had a firm backline and stood their ground.
With 20 minutes on the clock the Hornets nearly broke the deadline after Adam Johnson and Tommy Smith combined for a quick corner. Smith sent in a peach of a ball to the back post where Darius Henderson was lurking.
The Doncaster born striker out jumped the defence but his header was held on the line by Dean Kiely. Despite passionate cries from the Rookery that the ball had crossed the line the referee waived away the protests.
Watford continued to press, throwing balls into the area whenever possible. A loose ball fell to Smith and his goal-bound curler was headed away by Bostjan Cesar
Defender Dan Shittu was making his way forward at every opportunity and was a constant threat with his size in the West Brom box. His goalbound header was only deflected wide by team mate Henderson.
The Baggies opened the scoring on 32 minutes through on-loan striker Miller who finished from inside the box despite the best efforts of Lloyd Doyley and co on the line.
West Brom broke after Mariappa came worst off in a challenge and ex-Golden Boy Kevin Phillips was set free, his effort was saved by Richard Lee and from the resulting scramble Miller toe poked home in front of the travelling support.
Within two minutes Tony Mowbray's side had added a second. Again the goal itself was a follow-up shot after an initial attack. Robinson got round the back and crossed in for Zoltan Gera. His fabulous effort crashed back off the upright, James Morrison followed straight up and his blasted shot deflected in thanks to Phillips. It was a disappointing goal to concede with the defence slow to react to the second ball.
The Golden Boys had been stung by two killer blows within a couple of minutes and despite their possession had found themselves two down with ten minutes of the half remaining. A free kick was then awarded 20 yards out and Johnson lined up to take the kick. This would have been the perfect response but Johnson's subtle shot ended up just round the post.
As the half moved on the referee's involvement made the game more of a stop-start affair with three bookings coming before the interval and the man in black stopping the clash at regular intervals.
Half time: Watford 0 West Brom 2
Within four minutes of the re-start the Baggies added a third. A free kick was awarded by the corner flag near the Rookery and The Rous stand. Greening's delivery was inch perfect as defender Albrechtsen rose highest to head past Lee and leave the Golden Boys with a mountain to climb.
The game still wasn't flowing as the referee's whistle was breaking up play and Bostjan Cesar soon found himself in the notebook. Watford seemed unable to get a stranglehold back in the game as a confident West Brom went from strength-to-strength.
A fourth was nearly scored as Miller hit a low long range effort that was just held by Lee.
With the Baggies in control, Mowbray used his strength in depth and brought on Chris Brunt and debutant Rohan Bednar to freshen up his side while Boothroyd responded by swapping captain Gavin Mahon for Lee Williamson.
Still the Golden Boys struggled to create clear-cut chances and Henderson's speculative effort wide of the post was the nearest they could come.
Ex-Baggie Nathan Ellington was introduced to the crowd in place of Henderson as Boothroyd moved his troops around. He tried his luck with a long range effort but that sailed wide of Kiely's post.
At the other end, West Brom continued their pursuit of a fourth as Robert Koren's header was stopped from going in by an outstretched Jordan Stewart - the Baggies had started to expose the space created by the Hornets who were desperate for a goal.
For the remainder of the clash the Hornets were frustrated as the Baggies stood strong and didn't let anything past their resilent back four.
As much as the Leicester game was a shock to the Watford system this result can be sure to cause as much of a stir in the camp and Boothroyd will be sure to let his troops know what he thinks of the performance and result.
However ultimately the Hornets were left with too much to do after conceding goals so close together and a side as good as West Brom weren't prepared to lose their grip on the game.
WATFORD (4-4-2): Lee; Doyley, Shittu, DeMerit (Mariappa 9), Stewart; Johnson, Mahon (c) (Williamson 66), O'Toole, Smith; King, Henderson (Ellington 72). Subs not used: Priskin, McAnuff.
WEST BROM: (4-4-2): Kiely; Hoefkens, Albrechtsen, Cesar, Robinson; Gera, Koren, Greening (c), Morrison (Brunt 63); Phillips (Teixeira 81), Miller (Bednar 63). Subs not used: Barnett, Pele.
BOOKINGS: WATFORD; Shittu (20 dissent), O'Toole (44 foul). WEST BROMWICH ALBION; Phillips (18 foul), Cesar (57 foul).
SENDINGS OFF: WATFORD; none. WEST BROMWICH ALBION; none.
GOALS: WATFORD; none. WEST BROMWICH ALBION; Miller (32) Morrison (34) Albrechtsen (49).
REFEREE: M Jones.
ATTENDANCE: 18, 273 (West Bromwich Albion 2,318 supporters).
