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West Bromwich Albion clinched promotion to the Premier League at the expense of Brentford despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Queens Park Rangers at the Hawthorns.
With the Bees losing to Barnsley, a point was enough to seal the second automatic promotion spot after an entertaining match against a QPR side with nothing but pride to play for.
The Hoops were rewarded for weathering the early West Brom storm with Ryan Manning giving them a shock lead just after the half hour mark for his second goal in as many games.
But two minutes before the interval Grady Diangana restored parity – receiving the ball from Callum Robinson before slamming home .
Robinson then added a goal to his assist by coolly slotting home to put the hosts in prime position four minutes after the interval.
However, Ebere Eze made it 2-2, whipping an effort into the top corner to send West Brom nerves jangling with half an hour still to play.
With the Baggies’ destiny uncertain, the hosts pushed for a late winner but as news of Brentford’s despair reached the touchlines, they preserved the precious point that saw them promoted.
Key Points
Check out all the key talking points and reaction from London Football Scene below…
Key Moment
West Brom boss Slaven Bilic’s orders to slow the game, retreat and calm his players was a significant piece of game management after Eze’s stunner made it difficult.
Moan of the Match
Robinson’s goal just four minutes after the interval was a classic example of unnecessarily conceding, with the Hoops’ appearing to have left their concentration in the dressing room.
Talking Point
How do you rate QPR’s season overall – how much was this game a typical Hoops performance?
Man of the Match
Ebere Eze – a huge talent with 14 goals across the course of the season, the last of which was a stunning finish to claim some of the final day spotlight.
Tweet of the Match
Referee Watch
Darren England (South Yorkshire) – was strict in approach, working efficiently in such a pivotal fixture and dealt well with the pressure of the proceedings.
Atmosphere
The absence of Baggies fans certainly levelled the playing field, however it was strange to witness such huge moments with limited celebration.
Verdict
A nervy, topsy-turvy encounter that had every bit of tension you would want from an intense final day promotion battle – credit must go to QPR who made a terrific game of it.
