A share of the spoils had looked to be just about the right result until Horsfield – who replaced the injured Clinton Morrison – earned Blues their third win in four games.

City certainly had their opportunities with Christophe Dugarry (twice) and substitutes Darren Carter and Horsfield denied by a combination of fine goalkeeping by Russell Hoult and poor finishing.

Wide midfielder Damien Johnson caught the eye although City missed the pace of in-form winger Stan Lazaridis who failed a late fitness test on a hamstring strain.

But Albion also played their part in a game that got better as the afternoon wore on with Jason Koumas impressing in the centre of the park and only the woodwork denying Jason Roberts his first goal in 19 games.

They also showed their usual battling qualities but will now need to put together a remarkable run of results to stave off relegation.

Blues made a positive start in the noon sunshine and the first chance fell to Stephen Clemence who volleyed over from 12 yards out after a deep cross from Jeff Kenna had been turned back across goal by both Dugarry and Morrison.

Larus Sigurdsson then brought down Dugarry in full flight in a dangerous position but Robbie Savage - playing his last game before a two match ban – saw his free-kick easily dealt with by Albion skipper Sean Gregan.

Most of the play was confined to the Albion half in the opening stages although Blues keeper Ian Bennett had to fly-hack clear from an alert Roberts who had scored in the 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns in October.

Then Albion’s recalled defender Ronnie Wallwork – replacing long-term injury victim Darren Moore – was relieved when he sliced his attempted clearance straight back at Hoult who was able to clear.

The visitors started to come more into the game and threatened for the first time when on loan wing-back Ifeanyi Udeze fired just over the bar from 15 yards out after a move involving Gregan, Derek McInnes and Danny Dichio.

The Baggies had appeals for a penalty rejected after a tussle between Kenny Cunningham and Roberts and then Dichio could have done better when he headed over from a deep Koumas centre.

Bennett easily dealt with an inswinging Koumas free-kick and the game was crying out for someone to put their foot on the ball.

Robbie Savage stepped over a Jamie Clapham corner to allow Paul Devlin, who replaced hamstring victim Stan Lazaridis, a shot at goal from 20 yards out but he failed to keep his effort down.

Dugarry set up an opportunity for strike partner Morrison following a deep cross by Jeff Kenna but the ball was just behind the Republic of Ireland international who dragged his shot wide.

Then it was City’s turn to have penalty appeals rejected in the 41st minute after a tussle involving Morrison and Albion defender Neil Clement as referee Paul Durkin waved play on.

Albion made a positive start to the second half with Bennett parrying away a low drive from Koumas while Roberts hit the bar with a close range header after Dichio had turned a Koumas corner back across goal.

At the other end Dugarry looked certain to score his first Blues goal in nine starts when he met a cross from Clapham but his header was blocked by the legs of Hoult.

Koumas was only just off target with another powerful effort and it was the visitors who were looking more likely to break the deadlock.

Blues were forced to make a change when Morrison suffered a shoulder injury in an aerial collision with Clement and he was replaced by Horsfield.

Hoult failed to deal with a cross from Kenna and the ball broke to Dugarry but his effort from a narrow angle was cleared off the line by Clement.

Then it was the turn of Bennett to be called into action to cling onto a dipping effort from the impressive Koumas away to his left with the game now much more open than in the first 45 minutes.

Hoult responded with a finger-tip save to turn over a Horsfield area from a Devlin centre as Albion looked to have held out before Horsfield struck.