BRUNT FIRES BAGGIES BACK TO THE PREM

29-04-2008

more pics here!

Chris Brunt’s late equaliser against Southampton made Albion’s return to the Premier League all but a mathematical certainty on a tense night at The Hawthorns. The Baggies outplayed relegation-threatened Saints, but struggled to create clear cut chances.

With one game remaining, the gap between Tony Mowbray's side and third placed Hull is only three points, meaning that theoretically, they could get caught.

West Brom's goal difference is so vastly superior, though, that barring the unlikeliest sequence of results, they are up.

They didn't do it without a hiccup, of course. Adam Lallana scored against the run of play for the visitors in the 78th minute, and a few minutes later Neil Clement headed over an open goal.

Substitute Brunt – on for Morrison – smacked home a fierce drive through goalkeeper Richard Wright’s legs with just six minutes to go to finally end the home supporters' agony.

At the final whistle, relief mingled with joy as thousand of fans in a packed Hawthorns streamed onto the pitch.

When the crowds had been cleared back into the stands, manager Tony Mowbray and his team took a well-deserved lap of honour.

All season, the Baggies boss has argued that his players are better suited to the less frenetic atmosphere of the Premiership – now he, and they, will have the chance to prove it.

Can the Baggies survive in the Premier League? Leave a comment on The Stirrer Forum.