In attack Roman Bednar was restored as Kevin Phillips strike partner with January acquisition Ishmael Miller settling for a place on the bench.  Albion started this must win game brightly, and recorded their first effort on goal in the 4^th minute, Robert Koren trying his luck from 20 yards. 

A couple of minutes later super striker Kevin Phillips tried from similar range, his effort ran through to the safety of keeper Lee Camp after taking a deflection off Matthew Connolly.  The Baggies put themselves under unnecessary pressure moments later when Robinson left Brunt exposed after chasing the ball up field.  QPR winger Gareth Ainsworth cut inside Brunt and crossed to the back post where Dexter Blackstock had a golden opportunity to score, but Dean Kiely made a brave goal line save. 

Albion hadn’t forgotten their attacking virtue though, and moments later Koren had the better of the whole QPR backline as he dinked in a dangerous ball to Bednar.  Bednar controlled well to unleash a 15 yard effort which was tipped over the bar by the Rangers keeper. 

QPR however were eager to show the Baggies that nothing was done and dusted just yet.  In the 24^th minute a quick free kick taken by Rowlands had Kiely scrambling across his own line.  Luckily for Albion the kick was just wide of the left hand up right.   

Brunt had a superb chance to put West Brom a goal up when clever play from Paul Robinson saw him release the Northern Ireland International with a super diagonal ball on the edge of the box.  Brunt kept his composure and released a powerful low drive which Camp did well to prevent sneaking into the corner. 

In the 37^th minute the home side were reduced to ten men when referee Paul Taylor showed Rowlands a straight red card for his challenge of Jonathan Greening.  Rangers were forced to make a substitution which saw midfielder Mikele Leigertwood replace striker Angelo Balanta. 

Despite being a man down QPR were determined to press on, and just a minute before the break they threatened again when Damien Delaney cut inside from the left and produced an 18 yard effort which Kiely did well to hold. 

Half Time: Queens Park Rangers 0-0 West Bromwich Albion 

At the break Mowbray introduced the first of his substitutes, Bednar who had suffered a knock to the head towards the end of the first half was replaced with midfielder Kim as the Baggies adopted a 5 man midfield. 

There was a brief moment of panic for Albion at the start of the second half when Ainsworth towered above Robinson in the air and found Blackstock in space.  But his edge of the box shot was well over the target.  The Baggies soon settled into their stride, and their hard worked paid off in the 53^rd minute as they took the lead. 

Play maker Phillips caught the Rangers defence napping as he placed a delightful chip over to substitute Kim who was in a dangerous position.  Connolly made a last gasp challenge, but the ball fell into the path of Gera who wasted no time in cutting past Delaney and leaving Camp in no mans land before squaring for Kim to head into an empty net. 

The lead sparked the promotion party amongst travelling Baggies fans, but taking nothing for granted just yet Mowbray made another change just sixty seconds later, with Martin Albrechtsen replacing Neil Clement who was already on one yellow card.   

A flurry of Albion chances came as they searched for their second.  Brunt rattled the crossbar as he shot from just inside the box, and just minutes after scoring his first for the club Kim nearly grabbed his second as he pounced on the rebound to shoot from 15 yards.  But Camp was more than equal to the shot.  In the 75^th minute Gera had Camp beaten, but had to watch as his 25 yard corker went just agonisingly wide of the target. 

But just two minutes later the Baggies team, bench and travelling support were relaxing and allowing the feelings of elation to spill though as Albion snatched their second.  News was filtering through from the Britannia Stadium that a stalemate was gripping both the Potters and the Foxes, a point enough to send Leicester down with Southampton winning and a point not enough for Pulis’ men to win the title. 

A superb 25 yard free kick from Brunt had Camp well beaten, and the away support were rattling the stands with chants of ‘boing boing’ as the Baggies doubled their lead. 

The rest of the game was played out to a party atmosphere, with QPR never really looking a thread to Albion.  Albion’s last real chance of the game fell to Luke Moore in the third minute of stoppage time.  But his close range volley sailed harmlessly over the bar.  It didn’t matter though, because two goals was enough to see Albion promoted, as well as claiming their first league title in 88 years. 

Full Time: Queens Park Rangers 0-2 West Bromwich Albion 

Kim (53) 

Brunt (77) 

Attendance: 18,309  

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