NEWCASTLE UTD 1 WEST BROM 0 (Mitrovic)
Elliot, Coloccini, Wijnaldum, Sissokho, Shelvey (Saivet, 89), Aarons, Janmaat, Tiote, Townsend (Perez, 88), Taylor, Mitrovic. Subs not used Darlow, Gibson, Williams, Barlaser, Doumbia.
Aleksandar Mitrovic's 32nd-minute strike settled a game the Magpies might have won much more comfortably, and the 1-0 win, coupled with Norwich's defeat at Aston Villa, eased them into 17th place in the table.
They remain just a point clear of the drop zone, but McClaren is confident Newcastle now have a foundation upon which to build.
The win over West Brom at St James' Park moved Newcastle out of the Premier League's bottom three
He said: 'The three points are enormous. We said, 'If we win today, we'll get out of the bottom three', which is important. But you have to gather the points.
'This was a patched-up team, especially the defence, and we know - and I am hoping and I believe - that we will get stronger as the season comes to an end. Our squad will get stronger and better when we get people fit and defenders back.
'But the heroes today were the likes of Steven Taylor, Cheick Tiote and Rolando Aarons, who we threw in really and were probably not ready, but through cramp and everything got through 90 minutes.'