Picture gallery and full analysis of Newcastle 2 West Brom 3

The last time West Brom won at Newcastle Elvis Presley was on top of the charts and the Baggies were kings of the West Midlands.

Paul Scharner's dramatic late winner last night ended a 34-year wait for a St James' Park league success and sent Roy Hodgson's men into Christmas topping the local pile and dreaming of staying there.

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Back-to-back away wins ahead of the festive season have raised fresh hopes that the Baggies have what it takes to end their claret and blue neighbours' monopoly on regional bragging rights.

In September 1977, Elvis topped the pops with 'Way Down' as Cyrille Regis, Laurie Cunningham and Bryan Robson's goals on Tyneside put the Baggies on the way up, a 3-0 triumph aiding their progress to a sixth-place top-flight finish.

Now the club's finest set of players since those legends bestrode the stage can realistically dream of staying ahead of their local rivals in 2011 after edging a North East Christmas cracker last night.

For a while, it appeared a double dose of 'ba humbug' would limit the cause for celebration among the 800 travelling fans.

But a huge helping of festive spirit won the day as Roy Hodgson's side nicked a deserved three points with just five minutes remaining, ensuring Demba Ba's brilliant brace for the Magpies counted for nothing.

West Brom were excellent at times and careless at others. But, such was the dramatic nature of their latest away-day success, it was impossible to question the fight in the Hawthorns camp.

Depleted by mid-game injuries and rocked by an equaliser in each half from Ba, the Baggies entered the final throes of the game under the cosh.

Yet despite seeing an opener from the outstanding Peter Odemwingie and a first West Brom goal from the resilient Gareth McAuley both cancelled out by the Senegalese striker, Hodgson's men summoned enough energy and belief to snatch their just deserts at the death.

The same fighting spirit has brought them back from a poor start to the season to 10th place at Christmas.

They must now believe it can help them supplant their 'nearest and dearest' as the West Midlands' standard bearers next year.

Steven Reid's match-ending ankle injury provided another setback just seven minutes into last night's action.

But they rallied impressively and led, thanks chiefly to a wonderful defence-splitting pass from captain Chris Brunt on 20 minutes.

Odemwingie still had plenty to do but he showed the strength to hold off Fabricio Coloccini and the confidence to bend a shot past goalkeeper Tim Krul and into the bottom corner.

The hosts believed they had drawn level when Ba blasted home from 10 yards, but the effort was ruled out for offside in the build-up.

But Odemwingie's strike had inspired the Baggies, who settled into a period of dominance against a Magpies side who appeared short on belief.

That changed just after the half-hour, though, when Jerome Thomas was penalised for a clumsy nudge on Gabriel Obertan just outside the box and Ba curled an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner.

Yet a level half-time scoreline would have done the Baggies scant justice and they ensured a lead a minute before the break.

Shoddy Magpies marking allowed Paul Scharner a free header back across goal from Brunt's free-kick and McAuley even more freedom to nod home.

They had to survive a scare moments later when Vuckic thudded a long-range shot against the bar and Ba missed the rebound, but the Baggies were good value for their interval lead.

West Brom should have increased their advantage when a neat through-ball from Youssouf Mulumbu released Shane Long.

But, after rounding goalkeeper Krul, the Irishman fired a tricky shot against the angle of post and bar.

As the half progressed, Newcastle cranked up the pressure and forced the Baggies into a rearguard effort.

They suffered further injury blows with first Thomas and then Mulumbu limping off.

The loss of a further man temporarily cost them a second equaliser as Ba cashed in on Billy Jones' spell down injured, lashing home with five minutes to go.

Yet still there were further twists to come, first when Ben Foster's full-length save kept out another Haris Vuckic thunderbolt and then when the Baggies broke to grab their winner.

Long left Coloccini for dead on the right flank, his cross was headed down intelligently by Odemwingie and Scharner came up with a classy finish into the bottom corner.

Even then there was one moment of drama to come, as Foster's fine reaction save denied Cheick Tiote from a corner before the Baggies and their fans could celebrate a fabulous success.

By Steve Madeley

Follow West Brom reporter Steve Madeley on Twitter @stevemadeley.