Jay Rodriguez and Sam Field scored for West Brom as they eased past relegation threatened Bolton Wanderers in the Championship.
The Baggies moved to within three points of the automatic play-off places after the 2-0 win at the University of Bolton Stadium on Monday.
Kick-off was briefly held up as fans protested against chairman Ken Anderson.
Supporters had already made their feelings clear in the build-up to the match as they displayed banners and ‘Anderson Out’ posters outside the ground.
And just as the game was about to start, dozens of tennis balls were thrown onto one corner of the pitch which caused the delay.
Anderson has come in for criticism from sections of the support for the way he has run the club, and was recently involved in a public spat with Forest Green owner Dale Vince over the transfer of Christian Doidge.
Once the game started, early chances fell for both sides. Bolton midfielder Gary O’Neil glanced Craig Noone’s left-wing cross just wide of the far post, while Dwight Gayle could only bend his drive away from goal after cutting in from the left following a long punt by goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
The Baggies led after 19 minutes when Chris Brunt sent a free-kick from the left to the back post, with Craig Dawson nodding the ball back across the face of goal for forward Rodriguez to nod home from on the line.
In response Wanderers went close through Sammy Ameobi, who connected with Pawel Olkowski’s cross, but Johnstone tipped over the fierce effort.
Gayle would go close to doubling West Brom’s advantage but his dipping free-kick from 30-yards struck the top of Ben Alnwick’s crossbar and to safety.
Phil Parkinson’s hosts almost equalised almost immediately after the break. Noone’s corner from the left was half-cleared but the bell eventually fell for midfielder Jason Lowe, who hooked towards goal but saw Johnstone make a fine stop to his left.
But West Brom looked to build on their one-goal lead and they threatened when Field’s low ball from the left found its way to Ahmed Hegazi, who thumped his thunderous strike just wide of goal.
Albion doubled their advantage in the 75th minute after Field, who replaced Brunt in the first half, latched on a pass which was well dummied by Gayle to prod the ball beyond the on-rushing Alnwick and in to the bottom left corner.
West Brom professionally saw the game out to move up to third in the second-tier, three points behind second-placed Norwich.
Bolton remain second bottom in the division, with Phil Parkinson’s beleaguered side three points adrift of safety on a miserable night for Wanderers.