Goalscoring hero Roman Bednar almost missed out on his sixth goal of the season after Tony Mowbray revealed the Czech striker was almost pulled out of the squad after suffering flu-like symptoms on arrival this morning.
The Baggies' top scorer added to goals against Everton, West Ham, Fulham, Blackburn and Manchester City to head Albion into an 83rd minute lead, although he was a doubt prior to kick-off.
"It was touch and go whether Roman was going to play today," Mowbray admitted.
"He's got the starts of the 'flu or a heavy cold that a few of us around the building have suffered.
"He came in this morning with his scarf wrapped around his face and said he was willing to give it a go.
"Great credit to him he was still on the pitch so late on to score that goal."
The Baggies boss has now given his troops three days off in the hope the sickness bug, which restricted Robert Koren to a watching berth, will clear from the camp before Saturday's visit of Peterborough (KO 3pm) for the FA Cup third-round tie.
"We're going to give everyone three days off to try and clear the place of illness," he continued.
"I hope come New Year's Day we'll have greater numbers on the training ground than there have been recently.
"Robert was in his sick bed this morning and Roman just made it.
"If you keep plodding on through training things get passed on.
"Even I've probably passed the bug on.
"It's not an ideal scenario so we'll all have a few days off, reassess things on New Year's Day and have a couple of days' training before the Peterborough game."
Dutch defender Gianni Zuiverloon also limped out early with a worrying looking hamstring early however early results suggest the injury is not as bad as first thought.
"Gianni has a hamstring injury but I don't think it is a strain. I think it's a cramp," Mowbray added.
"We're hoping it is cramp.
"I think it's just through overuse."