ROBERT Koren crowned his first start of the season with what looked to be a 74th-minute winner at Ashton Gate.
But a determined Bristol City outfit preserved their unbeaten start to the Championship campaign when Bradley Orr scrambled home an equaliser two minutes from time.
It was rough justice on Tony Mowbray's men, who created the better chances on a night of high entertainment in the West Country.
The draw at least saw the Baggies open their league account on the road at the third attempt this term.
Both keepers were worked hard in a pulsating end-to-end encounter and Albion's rearguard came within touching distance of a third successive league clean-sheet.
Mowbray made four changes as Koren, Zoltan Gera, Richard Chaplow and Craig Beattie were all restored to the Baggies' starting XI.
James Morrison, Chris Brunt and Ishmael Miller dropped to the bench while Filipe Teixeira was rested altogether.
Albion were soon on the attack and a short-corner routine saw Koren return the ball to Jonathan Greening, who crossed for the recalled Gera.
But the Hungary international sent a misdirected header back across the six-yard box when he may have been better served going for goal himself.
A minute later, City attacked when Louis Carey met Lee Johnson's cross at the near post but headed wide.
Mowbray's former Hibernian signing Ivan Sproule raced away down the right in the ninth minute and crossed for ex-Wolves man Michael McIndoe, who came within a whisker of getting in a shot on goal from 12 yards.
Three minutes later, the space opened up in front of Koren and he tested Robins keeper Adriano Basso with a long-range effort low to his right.
Beattie then got to the left by-line before teeing up Koren who whistled a shot inches wide of the left-hand post.
But Beattie's poor lay-back seconds later saw the ball dissect Chaplow and Gera in the middle of the park and find McIndoe.
He skipped past centre-halves Leon Barnett and Martin Albrechtsen but, after doing the hard work, sent an 18-yard drive straight at Dean Kiely.
Barnett failed to properly clear Lee Trundle's free-kick in the 17th minute and the ball dropped kindly for Sproule, who forced Kiely into a wonderful point-blank save with a powerful 15-yard volley.
The Baggies managed to weather the Robins' brief storm but at the other end were restricted to long-range efforts by Kevin Phillips.
That was until a scything move saw Gera tee up Chaplow, who let fly with an 18-yard half-volley which Basso flung himself to his right to parry away for a corner in the 27th minute.
Two minutes later, Phillips slotted Chaplow through on the right side of the box and the former Burnley midfielder's cross-cum-shot squirmed inches wide of the far post.
City were then forced into a change as McIndoe limped out of the action and was replaced by Scott Murray.
Carey almost put through his own net from Greening's left-wing corner in the 31st minute and was fortunate to see the ball creep over the bar.
From the resultant Greening flag-kick, Paul Robinson powered in a near-post header that thundered against the crossbar and away to safety.
Gera produced a touch of magic five minutes before the break to waltz past three players in the hosts' midfield before unleashing an exocet which Basso spectacularly saved before scrambling to his left to prevent Beattie poking home the rebound.
Albion finshed the half strongly and Carl Hoefkens pounced on a rebound on the edge of the City box in stoppage time to thunder in a vicious drive which Basso could only parry.
Chaplow managed to latch onto the loose ball but Jamie McAllister nicked in to make it awkward for the Albion midfielder and the ball ran out for a goal-kick.
The Robins threatened first after the break as Sproule squeezed the ball through to Trundle in the penalty area who curled a left-footed shot inches wide of the far post.
The jet-heeled Sproule was causing the visitors' defence problems and he flashed a 25-yard effort wide of the right-hand post moments later.
Orr then flicked Johnson's free-kick just wide of the right-hand post as Gary Johnson's men started to get on top.
Mowbray decided it was time for a change in the 62nd minute and Miller replaced Beattie in attack.
The substitution appeared to galvanise the Baggies and Koren burst onto Robinson's throughball but saw the ever-alert Basso block at his feet.
From the resultant Greening corner, Gera's near-post header was saved comfortably by the City keeper.
Miller fired in a skidding shot in the 69th minute and Basso fumbled before recovering in time to beat Phillips to the rebound.
Johnson forced Kiely into another low save at the other end as this helter-skelter encounter never looked like slowing up.
Basso pulled off an acrobatic save in the 73rd minute to reach high to his left and clutch Koren's goalbound drive.
But the Slovenia international did not have to wait long to find the back of the net.
Gera sent the marauding Miller away on the right who beat two City defenders before squaring across the six-yard box for Koren to tap home.
Buoyed by the breakthrough, Albion took complete control.
But just as they looked set to seal Championship away win No.1 of the campaign, there was a sting in the tail.
The hosts were determined not to lose their unbeaten league record and when Johnson swung in an 88th-minute corner, Elliott's header was blocked on the line before Orr smashed the ball home.
CITY (4-4-2): Basso; Orr, Fontaine, Carey, McAllister (Vasko 85); Wilson (Byfield 77), Johnson, Elliott, McIndoe (Murray 29); Trundle, Sproule. Subs not used: Weale (gk), Skuse.
ALBION (4-4-2): Kiely; Hoefkens, Barnett, Albrechtsen, Robinson; Gera, Greening, Chaplow, Koren (Pele 88); Phillips (Morrison 78), Beattie (Miller 62). Subs not used: Steele (gk), Brunt.
GOALS: CITY - Orr (88). ALBION - Koren (74).
BOOKINGS: CITY - McAllister (foul 84), Orr (over-celebrating 88). ALBION - Miller (over-celebrating 75).
REFEREE: T Kettle (Leicestershire).
ATTENDANCE: 16,571.
ALBION STARMAN: Jonathan Greening.
PIC: WHAT A KOR-KER...Scorer Robert celebrates
