Carlos Corberan recognised the significance of West Brom’s win over Coventry as they moved seven points clear of the play-off chasing pack.
Mikey Johnston’s stunning strike handed Albion an early lead before Grady Diangana put them two up at the break.
Coventry came back and Haji Wright halved the deficit from the spot but despite late pressure Albion held out for a key three points to stretch their to-six cushion ahead of Saturday’s fixtures.
Baggies boss Corberan said: “An important result, it was important to win today.
“We were dominant in the first half, we found solutions to break the press and we controlled the ball in the middle of the pitch, without having too many opportunities.
“But the opportunities we had we finished them with a lot of accuracy.
“I knew the second half was going to be a challenge because they were aggressive in the middle in the first half and we lost the ball, and we needed to avoid that in the second half, it would be one of the keys of the game.
“Little by little we started to lose control of the ball and control of the game. They found options to be more in our (half) than the way we wanted to play.
“In the penalty they achieved an action in one minute when there was a lot of time to play.
“We then rediscovered control of the game when we changed to play with a five.
“We know that every game is going to be key with the value of every game being the same with three points.”
Sky Blues boss Mark Robins said his side’s first-half display was a “nothing performance”.
He said: “I think in the first half we were too passive. We couldn’t get out and gave them too much of the ball and they are a quality team, let’s face it.
“They’re in the play-offs for a reason, they have a strong squad with players who have know-how and little bits of nous, good quality and confidence.
“We did have three good chances in the first half but in the second we were more aggressive, the mindset changed.
“We didn’t move well enough, it was a nothing performance in the first half.
“In the second it was much, much better, we managed to get hold of the ball, got back in it with the penalty, and we had enough time to get back in the game but we conceded two poor goals.
“We had bodies in there for Johnston’s goal and Diangana ghosts in too easily.
“And we didn’t lay a glove on them in the first half – but Ben (Wilson) hasn’t had a save to make.
“Then late on we didn’t have a calmness.”