ROBERTO Di Matteo saluted Albion's mature performance at Swansea as the buoyant Baggies surged eight points clear of the chasing pack.

The visitors beat the Swans at their own game, keeping it tight at the back before securing away win No.9 thanks to ice-cool Graham Dorrans' 79th-minute penalty and sub Ishmael Miller's 89th-minute strike.

Albion's third successive win has seen them create further daylight between themselves and third-placed Nottingham Forest, who suffered a sixth successive away defeat at Barnsley.

And the Liberty Stadium success has also moved them 12 points clear of Swansea.

Di Matteo admitted the trip to South Wales had pretty much gone according to plan.

"The most important thing for us tonight was getting something out of the game," said the head coach, whose side became only the third team to win at Swansea this term.

"We're very pleased we managed to win.

"The game more or less went the way I thought it would.

"Swansea don't concede many goals but, on the other hand, they don't score many either, so we knew there wouldn't be many chances.

"We knew we had to stay in the game for as long as possible because we will always create a chance.

"The 0-0 scoreline was good and the longer the game went on with that scoreline, the more I thought our chances of winning would increase.

"It was a very mature performance.

"We didn't give much away and took our chances when they came along.

"If we don't concede, we've always got a chance of winning games as we've scored in every match in 2010.

"It was a great result as Swansea is a difficult place to go."

Swansea were somewhat aggrieved that referee Roger East pointed to the spot after sub Giles Barnes was sent tumbling by full-back Angel Rangel.

It is the second crucial penalty the former Derby ace has won in three days - and Di Matteo had no doubts that the Wiltshire official got it spot on.

"It was a clear penalty," he added.

"There's no discussion about it.

"Giles put the ball past their defender. Their defender then stuck his leg out and cut Giles down.

"If Swansea are upset about it, there's nothing I can do.

"Dozza is very cool and composed on penalties and his goal was vital for us."

Di Matteo was delighted with the late impact of Barnes and fellow sub Ishmael Miller, who netted his second goal in as many games.

But he said the duo's fitness would continue to be closely monitored to prevent them being overloaded too soon after coming back from long-term injuries.

"Tonight the substitutes definitely had an impact on the game," he reflected.

"We haven't had them for most of the season so we're glad they are coming back into the team and are able to help us in trying to reach our target.

"We know Ishmael's qualities and we've got to get him to a stage where he can start and finish games.

"But it's a balancing act at the moment."

Di Matteo is delighted his side have opened up such a points gap on third place with only nine games remaining.

But he has warned there is still plenty of hard work ahead if Albion are to secure a top-two berth - starting with back-to-back home games against Preston and Coventry.

"We've put ourselves in a good position now and have worked very hard to be in this position," added the former Italian international.

"Our destiny is in our own hands.

"It's up to us whether we manage to push on and stay where we are until it counts at the end of the season.

"Every game will be difficult to win.

"We just have to focus on the next one and try to do our best in that one.

"We will take it game by game, as we have been doing all season.

"It's still going to be tight."

Di Matteo conceded Swansea now face an uphill battle to clinch an automatic promotion place but had some words of comfort for the defeated opposition.

"It will be tough for them now but they're still in a great position and I'm pretty sure they'll make the play-offs," he said.

PIC: FRIENDLY RIVALS...Di Matteo greets Swansea boss Paulo Sousa, his former Serie A adversary, before kick-off