Ryan Mason saluted Mikey Johnston after his sensational goal helped West Brom claim a 2-1 Sky Bet Championship victory over Preston.
Republic of Ireland winger Johnston scored a 25-yard screamer five minutes before half-time and then Isaac Price settled the Hawthorns crowd even though Michael Smith scored a late consolation.
Johnston was the subject of transfer interest in the summer, and was reportedly on the radar of Brazilian giants Flamengo, but head coach Mason is delighted he stayed.
"Mikey played a really good game," said Mason. "He was taking players out of the game and making things happen.
"His goal was outstanding - it is clear to say that. He's going to probably get five of them a season.
"He needs to score more ugly goals.
"He's an important player, he's a player with value, clubs were interested in him, Mikey was someone we wanted to keep.
"He's well respected and liked. It was a moment of brilliance.
"Mikey knows I love him, I need to push him and get more out of him. He's a winger and wingers strive for consistency. I want him to score more tap-ins."
Ireland midfielder Mark Sykes was on the mark as Norwich's miserable record of losing every home match this season continued, Bristol City coming away with a hard-fought 1-0 success.
A well-taken goal from Sykes midway through the second half was enough to condemn the Canaries to a sixth successive reverse at Carrow Road to pile more pressure on Liam Manning, the former Robins boss.
It was a first win in five for the visitors while the hosts are now looking anxiously over their shoulders after another lacklustre display, although it might have been different but for two excellent saves from Radek Vitek in the second half.
Coventry reclaimed their spot at the top with a 2-0 victory over Blackburn.
Frank Lampard's men had slipped to second in the table after Middlesbrough's victory over Ipswich on Friday night, but goals from Victor Torp and Brandon Thomas-Asante took the Sky Blues back to the summit.
The hosts had scored 12 goals without reply in their previous three outings, including the 5-0 drubbing of Sheffield Wednesday before the international break, which followed a 4-0 thumping of Millwall at the Den.
Sheffield United moved off the bottom with a 1-0 victory over Watford at Bramall Lane.
Callum O'Hare was the match-winner, poking into an empty net just before the hour-mark to secure a first home win of the campaign for the Blades.
The victory moved United above city rivals Sheffield Wednesday into 23rd, while Javi Gracia lost in his first game back in charge of the Hornets following the sacking of Paulo Pezzolano.
Wednesday dropped to the foot of the table after a 2-1 loss at Charlton, with Owls goalkeeper Ethan Horvath sent off in second-half added time.
It capped off a miserable week for crisis-hit Wednesday, who are set to be served with a winding up petition by HMRC.
Sonny Carey and Reece Burke scored for the Addicks in a dominant first period but Jamal Lowe cut the deficit to set up a nervy finale.
Sorba Thomas was the matchwinner as Stoke beat Wrexham 1-0 to end a run of four league games without a victory and moved up to third in the league table.
Wales international Thomas settled the contest in the 36th minute when his cross from the left found its way into the net, taking his goal tally for the season to four since signing from Huddersfield in the summer.
Having followed up a loss to QPR with three consecutive draws, the win was an important one for Mark Robins' side and leaves them three points outside the automatic promotion places.
Defeat for Wrexham, meanwhile, sees them remain in 18th spot and now on a four-match winless run having drawn their previous three games 1-1.
