The Baggies claimed a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest, as a cruel Chris Cohen own goal summed up the home side's luck on an afternoon when they dominated for long periods.
The visitors managed only one shot on target, while former England keeper Scott Carson escaped unpunished after making numerous fumbles in the West Brom goal.
It took only four minutes for promotion favourites West Brom to force a smart save from Lee Camp, as he stretched high to his left to swat a bending Chris Brunt free-kick onto the post and, fortunately for the home side, away from danger.
But the pace of Nathan Tyson was a threat for Forest and when he forced a corner, Paul Anderson's fizzing cross picked out Adebola on the edge of the six yard box, where the big striker forced a smart save from Scott Carson with a towering header.
The Baggies keeper was on hand again to get his body behind a driven, rising shot from Polish international Radoslaw Majewski.
Forest should have taken the lead when Tyson robbed Youssouf Mulumbu of possession on the edge of the Albion penalty area and lashed a low ball across the face of goal. Paul Anderson's initial effort was blocked by Jonas Olsson but then Adebola prodded the instant rebound wide with the goal exposed.
But they continued to pressure as Majewski's cut back gave Garner the chance to flash a low shot narrowly wide into the side netting.
The second half began with a fearsome shot from Anderson that Carson held at the second attempt.
But it was Albion who bundled their way into the lead in the 52nd minute, as the Forest defence self-destructed.
Jonathan Greening's cross from the left was dangerous, but Chris Cohen and Joel Lynch got into a mix-up at the near post, where Cohen was unlucky to deflect the ball beyond Camp and into the net from close range.
Forest hit back as skipper Paul McKenna hammered a 20-yard shot that Carson couldn't hold, but Adebola lifted the rebound over from ten yards.
And substitute Dexter Blackstock was denied by a remarkable save from Carson when he had connected with a high, looping Tyson cross.
It was another Forest sub who was at the centre of the game's next major flash point, as Earnshaw was hauled down by Shelton Martis and Marek Cech as he attempted to burst between them in the box.
Referee Keith Stroud pointed to the spot and Carson was booked for trying to put Earnshaw off by going toe to toe with the striker as he collected the ball to place it on the spot.
But his tactics worked as Earnshaw fired wide of the keeper's right hand post.