Striker Jason Roberts came in from the wilderness to grab his 16th goal of the season and guarantee West Brom a place in the promotion play-offs.

Roberts, Albion's record signing at £2million, has had to be content with a seat on the substitutes' bench as Gary Megson's men battled to stay in the race for top flight football.

But he wasted no time celebrating his return to first team action with the goal that earned Albion a vital share of the spoils against Huddersfield.

It was Lou Macari's men who took a shock seventh-minute lead when striker Andy Booth spotted Albion keeper Russell Hoult yards off his line.

Booth found the target with a brilliant lob from 30 yards over the stranded Hoult to claim his second goal since his return to the McAlpine Stadium.

But it was 1-1 in the 17th minute when Roberts got the all important strike that extended Albion's season into the play-offs.

Dutch midfielder Richard Sneekes engineered the opening and he sent the unmarked Roberts breaking for goal with a pinpoint pass. Roberts kept his cool as he dribbled his way round Belgium keeper Nico Vaesen before side-footing the ball into the back of an empty Town net.

Albion came desperately close to snatching the lead just five minutes later when Des Lyttle fired in a 25-yarder that flew passed Vaesen and just inches passed the far post.

After the break it was Town who held the edge and Hoult made a good save to keep out a goalbound drive from Ben Thornley.

At the other end Roberts set up a good chance for strike partner Lee Hughes but he blazed his effort high over the woodwork from only 10 yards.

Teams

West Brom: Hoult, Gilchrist, Sigurdsson, Butler, Clement, Sneekes, Fox, Appleton, Lyttle (Adam Chambers 67), Hughes (Taylor 68), Roberts (Quinn 88).

Subs Not Used: Jensen, Jordao.

Booked: Appleton, Sigurdsson.

Goals: Roberts 17.

Huddersfield: Vaesen, Jenkins, Lucketti, Heary, Armstrong, Baldry (Gallen 90), Holland, Gray, Thornley (Irons 69), Booth, Facey.

Subs Not Used: Margetson, Moses, Hay.

Booked: Booth, Holland.

Goals: Booth 7.

Att: 17,542

Ref: B Knight (Orpington).