Bristol City rediscovered their best form when it mattered most to pass their Ashton Gate screen test with flying colours.

Unbeaten in 10 games and hard on the heels of Championship leaders Newcastle United, the Baggies arrived in Bristol in a rich vein of form but left with tails between legs after being taken to the cleaners by the resurgent Robins.

If the BBC selected this game for live coverage in the hope of witnessing a West Brom master-class, they were quickly disabused of the idea as City came from behind to register their first win in eight games and put much-needed distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

Albion started well enough and forged a 24th minute lead through the impressive Graham Dorrans.

But City refused to buckle and staged a remarkable second-half fight-back to turn the formbook upside down.

Loan signing Chris Iwelumo netted his first goal since arriving from Wolves to level matters nine minutes into the second half and Albion were still reeling when Lee Johnson opened his goal-scoring account for the season four minutes later.

Urged on by a passionate crowd, the home side defended superbly thereafter and could easily have won more handsomely, so complete was their domination.

City's players had been instructed to take the game to the Championship title contenders and they served notice of their attacking intentions from the outset, Danny Haynes surging past Joe Mattock and into the penalty area before shooting into the side netting.

The highest scorers in the second tier, West Brom were quite prepared to meet fire with fire and Graham Dorrans tested Dean Gerken with a snap-shot which City's keeper had to move smartly to gather.

When they next attacked, Roman Bednar appeared to be tripped by Robins skipper Louis Carey just inside the 18 yard area. He and his team-mates appealed vociferously but in vain as referee Neil Swarbrick waved away claims for a penalty.

Their confidence restored by a barnstorming second-half performance against Leicester in midweek, City picked up where they left off and Bradley Orr cut inside from the right and sent a stinging drive just wide of Scott Carson's goal.

When Liam Fontaine slid David Clarkson in a few moments later, Carson had to be alert to keep out the Scottish international striker's shot, while Chris Iwelomu made the former England goalkeeper work with a towering header which required a diving save.

Just when City were threatening to take control, Albion demonstrated their Premier League quality to take a 24th minute lead. The home side were fortunate to survive when Bednar turned Chris Brunt's cross onto the post, but the respite was short-lived, Gianni Zuiverloon carving open an exposed defence with a slide-rule pass which rendered Dorrans' finish straightforward.

As his shot went in off the far post, red-shirted defenders appealed in vain for an offside flag.

Now in full flow, Albion should have doubled their lead on the half hour mark, Bednar demonstrating a deft touch to bring down Joe Mattock's inch-perfect centre and confound Lewin Nyatanga, only to shoot weakly at Gerken with the goal at his mercy.

City rode their luck and should have been level shortly before half time, Haynes seizing upon a mix-up between Jonas Olsson and Gabriel Tamas to engineer a clear sight of goal. But the Londoner's finishing let him down and he scuffed his shot wide of the target, much to the relief of keeper Carson.

The home side had appeals for a penalty turned down early in the second half, referee Swarvrick adjudging Tamas to have handled the ball unintentionally under pressure from the hulking Iwelumo.

But City's frustrations were banished nine minutes later. Johnson floated a corner kick to the near post, Carey helped the ball on and Iwelumo was on hand to finish from close range.

And City were in front four minutes later, Haynes embarking on another coruscating run which culminated with him dragging the ball back across the face of goal to present the jubilant Johnson with the simplest of tap-ins.

West Brom suddenly appeared ordinary and Haynes terrorised their defence once more when racing past the bemused Mattock and creating an opportunity for Liam Fontaine, whose powerfully-struck shot blazed just over.

Haynes was causing havoc in Albion ranks and another surging run and cross invited Iwelumo to rise imperiously at the far post and send a header dipping over Carson's cross bar.

City continued to dictate terms

If City's players were concerned when the fourth official signalled five minutes of added time, they did not show it and, Bednar's scuffed shot apart, Albion never looked like getting back into the contest.

City (4-3-3): Gerken; Orr, Carey, Nyatanga, Fontaine; Skuse, Elliott, Johnson (Hartley 90); Haynes (Sproule 83), Iwelumo, Clarkson (Maynard 78).

West Brom (4-4-2): Carson; Zuiverloon, Olsson, Tamas, Mattock; Brunt, Dorrans, Koren (Cox 62), Mulumbu Nouble (Slory 56), Bednar.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)

Attendance: 14,374