Roy Hodgson wants West Brom to establish themselves as a Premier League club after the 2-1 win over Aston Villa virtually guaranteed safety.
Goals from Peter Odemwingie and Youssouf Mulumbu at The Hawthorns on Saturday enabled the Baggies to overcome trailing to an own goal from Abdoulaye Meite and the 62nd-minute sending-off of midfielder Paul Scharner.
Albion's first victory over Villa in 26 years leaves them eight points clear of the bottom three with just three games remaining.
Hodgson said: "From a selfish viewpoint, I'm going to have a wonderful weekend.
"It's a fantastic feeling with three games to go to have achieved our major goal of keeping West Brom in the Premier League.
"It means we get successive seasons at least and I'm rather hoping we will be able to build on the foundations we've laid this year.
"Hopefully we can find a team that can stay there year after year and not consistently have to bounce back from relegation."
Hodgson was again full of praise for his players, who have gained 26 points after being in losing positions this season - more than any other Premier League team.
Hodgson said: "Once again we showed a lot of character and resilience and determination against a good team after going a goal down and then playing with 10 men.
"We've got to say they deserved it today and we broke a 26-year hoodoo."
Odemwingie scored his 14th goal of the campaign and netted for the fourth successive game.
Hodgson said: "His goals have been vital. He has done extremely well, scored some spectacular goals and ones like today.
"It is his first year in the Premier League and next year he will get even better."
Villa caretaker boss Gary McAllister insists his players did not take their foot off the pedal after their recent four-game unbeaten run effectively ended their relegation fears.
He said: "It was not necessarily an end of season performance.
"I just feel it was an opportunity to grasp three points away from home against a local rival.
"We got ourselves in front. The first goal was a poor goal to concede and an unneeded challenge, then we didn't defend the set-piece.
"Then when West Brom went down to 10 men it was a great chance for us.
"We stuck in a lot of offensive players with skill, pace and guile but we couldn't break down West Brom -
and then we got done with a sucker punch."
McAllister is still hoping Villa can finish in the top half of the table.
He added: "We are still looking up the table, definitely. There are nine points to play for.
"We have got Wigan at home and it is the only chance we've got to do a double over a team this season, which is a disappointing statistic.
"But it is a chance to beat a team that is below us and maybe get in the top half again.
"The disappointing thing today is we know what three points would have meant.
"Villa are still the biggest club in the midlands and we want to finish top of that pile."
