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Carlo Nash started in goal again after the late withdrawl of Peter Schmeichel with a knee injury.
The early proceedings were very much two sides feeling each other out, both having identified this as a must win encounter.
As the half went on City started to dominate proceedings without ever looking to threatening. Foe and Tiatto nullified the West Bromwich midfield giving Berkovic the freedom to control the game.
Despite City's dominance, the sides went in level at the break.
The second half saw City continue to dominate and it came as no surprise when they took the lead in the 52nd minute. A delightful move saw Berkovic unselfishly square the ball for Anelka to finish with his sixth of the season.
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West Brom hit back just nine minutes later when they were awarded a free kick ten yards outside the area. Berkovic was penalised for time wasting, booked and the referee moved the free kick ten yards forward to the edge of the box. Clement struck it beyond the unsighted Nash to give the Baggies an undeserved equaliser.
City heads didn't drop and they got the goal they deserved 10 minutes later. A west Brom attack broke down and City countered through Tiatto. His ball found Goater who passed to Anelka who squared the ball for Goater to finish simply.
The second killed off West Brom and City should have won by a greater margin, spurning several late chances, most notably when Goater hit the post when easier to score.
City hung on and completed their second away win in a week to move up to the lofty heights of 14th and a small matter of a Manchester derby as the next league game.