EDDIE Newton hailed Albion's players for restoring home pride in style with an exhilarating 4-2 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Newcastle.
The assistant head coach revealed the troops had been told in no uncertain terms that the coaching staff did not want to be associated with another display like the one they produced in their 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest last time out at The Hawthorns.
And Newton was delighted with their response as a Graham Dorrans penalty double and strikes from Jonas Olsson and Jerome Thomas eased them through to tomorrow's fifth-round draw.
"We won't overlook what happened against Forest," said Newton.
"It was a disastrous performance.
"We don't know what happened.
"We've gone over it many times since with the players. We've talked about it and watched footage of it.
"We've talked to the boys individually and as a whole to get to the bottom of it.
"We told them we were disgusted with it and that we don't ever want to be associated with a performance like that again.
"And the boys have responded in the best possible fashion.
"The main focus at this football club has to be trying to get back up to the Premier League.
"It's nice to have a cup run. It's good for confidence.
"But the main thing today - for the fans and for our respectability - was trying to get back to winning ways at home.
"We've achieved that against the top team in our league.
"That bodes well for the future and is good for the boys from a psychological point of view.
"We've now got to kick on in the league. That's the most important thing.
"If we keep going in the cup, great.
"Remember, I've won this competition as a player - and I love it.
"But our main focus has to be trying to win promotion."
The former Chelsea star was also delighted Albion finally got their just desserts after seeing the Toon come from behind THREE times to earn draws in their league encounters this term, most recently in Monday's 2-2 stalemate at St James' Park.
But he insists Albion's performances in the last two games are the benchmark for the rest of the season.
"Some of the football the boys played up at Newcastle was fantastic and we should have walked away with all three points," Newton added.
"If Ishmael Miller had put that chance away, I think we would have bagged all three points.
"Today we finally beat Newcastle.
"I thought in the home game at the beginning of the season that their keeper Tim Krul had an outstanding game. He came on and pulled off five world-class saves.
"We should have won up there as well but we've finally got our just rewards for some really good performances.
"We've told the boys that they've set their standard now and that they can't drop from it.
"We need to be professional and not step on the pitch thinking it's just going to happen for us.
"They've made a name for themselves and they have to live up to that now."
Di Matteo's No.2 admitted today's game was tough for both sides after the effort expended in the Coca-Cola Championship clash five days ago.
And he was pleased with the way Albion weathered an early second-half fightback from the visitors when Andy Carroll volleyed home to make it 2-1 in the 62nd minute.
"It was two very good sides," said Newton.
"I think the game we had the other night at their place took a lot out of everyone.
"You could see both sides could not get to that level again.
"So it became more of a tactical game than it was at their place.
"In the first half, we stretched them and played some good stuff.
"We were good for the result in the end.
"But you're always concerned when you're playing Newcastle.
"They're a very good side, a very physical one too.
"One of the things we said at half-time was when we go out in the second half the first 15 minutes would be vital.
"Newcastle were going to come at us and try and push us, maybe change their formation, which they did.
"We expected it.
"Sometimes you just have to batten down the hatches and deal with it.
"You cannot control 100 per cent of the game, especially against a side with the quality of Newcastle."
