West Brom 3 Birmingham City 2 - Report and pictures
James Shan has now equalled Albion's longest winning streak of the season, and it could very well earn him the hot-seat for the rest of campaign.
Albion's board wanted to be convinced by the caretaker boss in the derby, but after an unconvincing first half that left them 1-0 down, it looked like they'd be forced to go back to the drawing board.
Then the Baggies roared into life after the break, coming from behind twice, and scored two goals in nine minutes to turn the clash on its head including a thunderous winner from Jake Livermore.
More importantly, perhaps, was how decisive Shan was.
He removed the ineffective James Morrison at half-time for Hal Robson-Kanu, giving Albion a physical presence up front.
It worked, and while this was hardly a perfect performance, it was the first time the caretaker had been behind in his tenure and his team responded.
Shan made one change from the side that beat Brentford, bringing Jake Livermore in for Stefan Johansen, but Albion's central midfield lacked pace in the first half.
The caretaker tweaked his formation, pushing Jay Rodriguez central in behind Dwight Gayle and James Morrison out right.
It nearly paid off two minutes in, when the front pair combined nicely to almost send Gayle through, but that proved to be a false dawn, and Morrison struggled on the wing.
Harlee Dean had the first real shot in anger, volleying a headed clearance back into the melee only for it be cleared.
That chance came from a corner, and should have been a warning for the Baggies, because seven minutes in, the visitors took the lead from one.
Referee David Webb had just had a word with Gary Gardner and Chris Brunt about pushing in the box before the Blues midfielder lost the Albion captain and converted a simple header from six yards out.
It was City's first goal in more than 400 minutes of football and it was greeted with a smoke bomb from the away end. The Baggies had conceded early at home again.
Monk's men were winning the midfield battle early on, and flooding forward whenever they got the chance.
Ahmed Hegazi was fortunate not to be punished 18 minutes in when he gave the ball straight to Che Adams before David Davis blasted over under pressure from Morrison.
It took until the midway part of the half for Albion to string together a dangerous passing move, when Harlee Dean saw yellow for tripping Conor Townsend before he went through on goal.
Gayle then did well to lay the ball back to Rodriguez, but a fantastic intervention from Maxime Colin mopped up danger.
Kyle Edwards was a bright spark for Albion, and the youngster mirrored Colin's defending up the other end, saving Craig Dawson's blushes in the process, before the centre-back was shown yellow for going through the back of Lukas Jutkiewicz.
It was too easy in midfield for Birmingham, who threatened again when Maghoma found Adams, only for Hegazi to put in a last-ditch block.
Gayle and Rodriguez both got their heads to crosses, but neither could divert their efforts on target.
Jutkiewicz got his on target, but it was straight at Johnstone, and then just before half-time Gayle missed the easiest header of the lot, shouldering Brunt's corner over the bar from five yards out after timing his run well.
It had been an unconvincing first half, and the home fans greeted the break with boos.
Something had to change, and Shan brought Hal Robson-Kanu on for Morrison at half-time.
Within two minutes, the Baggies were level. Brunt atoned for his earlier error, swinging in a delicious free-kick that ached to be converted.
Gayle was one of the smallest men in the box, but managed to glance it inside the far corner to end a run of six games without a goal.
A few minutes later Livermore was fortunate the ref missed an off-the-ball incident when he tripped Dean in an aggressive retaliation after the defender's own attempt to trip Gayle.
But the Baggies found themselves behind again 57 minutes in, and again it came from a corner.
This time it was Jutkiewicz who outjumped Rodriguez to nod in at the back post, but Hegazi was off the pitch receiving treatment at the time, causing confusion in the Baggies' ranks which Blues capitalised on.
Albion had it all to do again, but nine minutes later they were level.
Colin had been brilliant all night, but 66 minutes in, Townsend nutmegged him before being felled by Connor Mahoney.
It was on the edge of the box, but referee Webb deemed it inside, and pointed to the spot.
After a long pause while the referee spoke to players about encroaching, Rodriguez sent Lee Camp the wrong way to keep up his 100 per cent record and convert his seventh spot-kick of the season.
Seven minutes later, and the turnaround was complete. Livermore has made a habit of scoring important goals for the Baggies.
He did it against Tottenham last season, and away at QPR more recently, but they were bundled finishes.
This strike in the 73rd minute was an unstoppable first-time shot that lasered past Camp before he'd even realised Livermore had hit it.
Former Baggie Craig Gardner came on for Blues, but could only muster a nasty challenge on Robson-Kanu, as Albion saw the game out.
The win takes the Baggies within four points off the top two, for a few hours at least.
For a board desperate to clinch promotion this season, that may be enough to convince them to stick with Shan.
Key moments
07 GOAL BLUES - Gardner loses Brunt in the box and heads home a corner.
44 Gayle misses a glorious chant from five yards out, turning his back on a Brunt corner.
47 GOAL ALBION - Gayle glances home a Brunt free-kick to draw the teams level.
53 Livermore lays out Dean off the ball but the incident isn't seen by the ref.
57 GOAL BLUES - Jutkiewicz outjumps Rodriguez at the far post to nod home.
66 GOAL ALBION - Rodriguez scores a penalty after Townsend is felled by Mahoney.
73 GOAL ALBION - Livermore lasers an unstoppable first-time shot past Camp.
Man of the match
Ahmed Hegazi - Nothing got past him all night.
Position in the table
4th - with 70 points from 39 games
Teams
Albion (4-2-3-1): Johnstone; Holgate, Dawson, Hegazi, Townsend; Livermore, Brunt; Morrison (Robson-Kanu 45), Rodriguez (Bartley 90+3), Edwards (Murphy 72); Gayle.
Unused subs: Bond, Mears, Harper, Johansen.
Birmingham City (4-4-2): Camp; Colin, Morrison (c), Dean, Pedersen; Maghoma, G Gardner, Davis (C Gardner 78), Mahoney (Jota 82); Adams (Vassell 82), Jutkiewicz.
Unused subs: Roberts, Mrabti, Trueman, Harding.
Referee: David Webb
Attendance: 24,789 (2,569 away)
