Tony Pulis admitted it took his Albion side 45 minutes to get going as three goals in 13 second half minutes finished off lowly Swansea City.
Albion were below par in a scrappy first half, despite Salomon Rondon missing two excellent opportunities.
But Albion's No.9 made up for his missed chances after the break with a 13 minute headed hat-trick. Wayne Routledge scored a late consolation for the visiting Swans but it wasn't enough to stop Albion moving back up to 7th.
"We played 24 hours later [last weekend] than Swansea had and, in the first half, we looked laboured," he said.
"I'm pleased for the group. I thought in the first 20 minutes of the second half - that's where the game was won and we played like we can play.
"We say a few things [at half-time] and sometimes you have to say a few things. It was more to do with the fact we had to step up. The main players in the team stepped it up, and that was the important for us. They were three fantastic headers. We're pleased for him and the group. We really had to dig deep and oil the engine."
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