In a game that was always likely to have huge implications on the play-off race, the emphasis was on Coventry as the chasers outside the top-six to magic a result.
There was a moment of magic in the early stages, but it didn’t come from the visitors, it instead came from the Baggies’ Michael Johnston, who stepped in off the left and unleashed a wicked effort into the top-right corner.
Undeterred, Mark Robins’ side responded well and came within inches of drawing level when a well-worked short corner ended with Josh Eccles firing an effort narrowly wide of the target.
They were left to rue that missed opportunity not long after either. Despite being kept relatively quiet in the opening exchanges, West Brom’s academy graduate Tom Fellows worked his way to the byline and his delivery was slammed home by the onrushing Grady Diangana.
Coventry introduced big-money summer signing Haji Wright at the break in a desperate attempt to change the flow of the game, but even the American’s introduction failed to get the Sky Blues purring, as they struggled to gain a foothold in the game.
Chances were at a premium for the Sky Blues, but even when they did arrive, they were wasteful with them, as Victor Torp proved when he fired handsomely over from the edge of the area.
The dynamic of the game changed 20 minutes from time though, when a moment of madness from Cédric Kipré saw him fell Kasey Palmer in the area, and Wright stepped forward to stroke home the resulting penalty and set up a grandstand finish.
An Ellis Simms snapshot aside, Coventry never really threatened an equaliser and West Brom were fairly comfortable in seeing out the victory which ensured they avoided losing successive home league games for the first time since October 2022.
The bigger picture sees the Baggies now seven points inside the play-off spots, while Coventry are left with their work cut out four points adrift of sixth-placed Hull City.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Michael Johnston (West Brom)
