ROBERTO Di Matteo hailed his players for crowning an 'excellent' ten days with a 2-0 win over Scunthorpe to go back to the top of the table.
The Baggies ensured they came through a taxing period with a maximum 12-point haul thanks to Roman Bednar's 13th-minute opener - his ninth goal of the season - and sub Gianni Zuiverloon's 86th-minute strike.
It proved enough to lift them back above Newcastle - who lost 3-0 at Derby but have played a game less - on goal difference.
Albion are also four points clear of third-placed Nottingham Forest after they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Midlands rivals Coventry.
"We're very pleased with the last ten days," said Di Matteo.
"We've played four games and managed to get full points, which is excellent for us.
"We didn't expect tonight to be an easy game.
"Credit to Scunthorpe, they made it hard for us and played good football as well.
"They didn't quite hurt us but they made it hard.
"The first goal was important for us.
"To score early settled us down a little bit and we were looking for the second goal.
"It didn't quite come as early as we would have liked.
"We had chances but we didn't quite manage to score.
"Fortunately, we got one towards the end which killed the game off."
The Baggies boss is refusing to get carried away by his team's return to the Championship summit for the first time in three months, especially with a third of the season still remaining.
"The table is important at the end of the season, not now," he insisted.
"As I said a couple of weeks ago, everything will probably be decided in the last couple of games.
"I don't think anyone is going to pull away.
"There are so many games to go and we have our own problems with the players we're missing and all the games coming up.
"We've been playing so many games lately and we've got a full schedule.
"It's tough and very demanding.
"You could see tonight some of the players were at their limit.
"They try to give you more but they can't because they don't have any fuel left."
With the league schedule taking its toll through injuries and suspension, Di Matteo admits he will make changes for Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round trip to Reading (ko 3pm).
He also revealed he is still looking to make another emergency loan signing to bolster his ranks.
"I'm really looking forward to playing in the cup," he added.
"It's a nice little distraction.
"We're definitely going to make some changes just to freshen up the team.
"But I'm sure we'll have a very competitive side out on Saturday.
"We had a youth-team player on the bench again tonight so we're maybe looking to get one more player in to help us out until we get our own players back.
"As you well know, we've got a few injuries and a suspension, so we're a little bit short on numbers."
