Goals from Youssouf Mulumbu, James Morrison and Paul Scharner sealed victory for the Baggies, who have moved above their opponents in the battle for Barclays Premier League survival.

Albion have now taken five points from three away games since Hodgson replaced Roberto Di Matteo last month.

But the ex-Liverpool manager is adamant his players deserve the plaudits.

Hodgson said: "You look to do a job, try to prepare the players as best as you can - but at the end of the day it's all about players, not coaches.

"The players have got to do the job, and they can feel very satisfied coming away from a difficult match with important points at stake, having played so well from start to finish.

"The board made the change of manager very late on. They realise a late change doesn't always work, and we still don't know if it will.

"But one hopes the confidence will improve with these results, and hopefully we have turned some sort of corner.

"There will be ups and downs, but hopefully there won't be so many blips that we can't get enough points to stay up."

West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie helped transform a below-standard opening 45 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute for Marc-Antoine Fortune.

Hodgson said: "Fortune did well in the first half, running the channels and holding the ball up well, and I had a feeling the second half would be less frenetic and Peter would come into his own.

"I have not seen him play up front on his own before, but today he showed he can do the job."

The only down side for Albion was that midfielder Graham Dorrans will be out of action for at least a fortnight with the ankle injury he suffered in training yesterday.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish felt his side suffered a hangover from their Carling Cup triumph over Arsenal last weekend.

McLeish was forced to make four changes, with Craig Gardner, Barry Ferguson, Martin Jiranek and Nikola Zigic unfit, even though the latter was named amongst the substitutes.

In addition, Liam Ridgewell suffered a groin problem while warming up and needed an injection to play.

McLeish said: "Wembley was a factor in our performance. To make the enforced changes we had to do made it very difficult for us.

"You are looking for the guys who come in to provide fresh inspiration, but it did not materialise, and the goals we lost were schoolboy errors.

"It is a kick in the teeth, and we know the battle we face, and we will see where we are in May."

McLeish added: "The boys were aware already that they are in a relegation battle.

"It is not a case of it just creeping up on them. This is not a wake-up call.

"We had to make all those changes, and there will still be major doubts for the game at Everton in midweek. But I still back this team to come back from this."

Birmingham are still in the FA Cup, with a home quarter-final against Bolton next Saturday, and McLeish admitted: "It could be a burden, but how can you tell players not to try?

"It is difficult not to pick your strongest team. I am sure they want to get back to Wembley, but I also want to stay in the Premier League."

All that Birmingham could manage in reply was a goal from winger Jean Beausejour, but they were second best for most of the 90 minutes.