Queens Park Rangers 0 - West Bromwich Albion 2

Albion clinched victory with two second half goals against ten-men Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road to win our first league title for 88 years.

Rangers, bottom in December, lined up comfortably positioned in mid-table, thanks principally to winning eight, drawing three and losing only one of their previous twelve home fixtures (glad I didn't realise that before the match!). Albion, needing to at least equal Stoke's result to win the league, made two changes; bringing in Chris Brunt and Roman Bednar for James Morrison and Ishmael Miller.

Albion made a positive start but it was Rangers who came desperately close to scoring. A deep cross was met with a downward header by Blackstock but Dean Kiely clutched the ball at the foot of the post and thankfully the linesman ruled it had not crossed the line. The Baggies responded with a swift break and Robert Koren found Roman Bednar with a clever chip. The striker took a brilliant first touch then whipped in a tremendous dipping volley, which the keeper Camp, at full stretch, tipped over the bar. This was followed by typical shot from Chris Brunt which Camp did well to deflect for a corner. It was developing into a good game, when, eight minutes before the break, the odds swung dramatically in favour of the Baggies. Rowlands and Greening contested for the ball near the halfway line and the former seemed to go over the top with his tackle. On the advice of his assistant the referee produced a red card and Rangers were down to ten men. Despite this disadvantage the home side continued to compete all over the park and with no goals in the crucial game in the Potteries, most fans were satisfied with the half time score.

Unexpectedly, Bednar, who had suffered a head injury, was replaced at the break not by Miller, but by Do-Heon Kim, as Tony Mowbray switched to 4-5-1. The change had a positive effect and led to the opening goal in the 53rd minute. The scorer Do-Heon Kim, controlled a Phillips pass in the box, but stumbled under a tackle. The ball ran loose to Zoltan Gera who went to the touchline before dinking the ball back across goal, to where Kim, quickly to his feet, anticipating the cross, was able to nod home. Cue pandemonium amongst the mixture of super heroes and more traditional fans. Neil Clement had been booked just before the break and when he mistimed another tackle Tony Mowbray played safe by hauling him off and bringing on Martin Albrechtsen. A second goal was needed and almost came with a double strike. First a rising shot from Chris Brunt crashed against the crossbar and from the rebound Do-Heon Kim hit a tremendous drive which Camp beat away. When the Baggies were awarded a free kick on the right hand edge of the box in the 77th minute the waiting was over. With a strike which had Premiership written all over it, Chris Brunt, planted a precision free kick into the far corner twixt post and bar. More wild celebration, with just a pause when, in the final minute, the Hoops broke and Blackstock missed a sitter and again, in stoppage time when, from a through ball, substitute Moore on for Paul Robinson, had a great chance to net his first goal, but wastefully skied his shot well over the bar.

I didn't realise until yesterday quite how much I wanted to win that Championship and how emotional it would be when after the game we were presented with the trophy. Cue wild celebrations on the pitch! I was satisfied with second place in 2002 and 2004 but this time, I felt that not only were we the best side in the league by far, but that we needed to prove it and record a win for posterity. This was a victory for teamwork and good leadership and both were on show in spades. Three players stood out today; man-of-the-season Zoltan Gera, surely the best player in the Championship and the two goal-scorers, Chris Brunt for his deadly shooting and Do-Heon Kim who raised the tempo and showed some exciting touches. The manager again impressed, getting his second half tactics spot on, by introducing another passer of the ball to take advantage of the ten-men and spotting and eliminating the potential problem of a second card for Clement.

On a personal note this was my 885th consecutive competitive match, having attended every game since 1st April 1991. In just over 17 years, the Baggies have won just 15 games more than they've lost, 335 to 320, with 230 drawn and scored 61 more than they've conceded, 1208 to 1147.

STATISTICS

We travelled to Loftus Road eight years ago, for the last away game of the 1999-2000 season, facing arguably an even more important game than yesterday's. Dressed in our "posh" gear we were seeking a point to keep our noses in front of Walsall and avoid relegation to Division Two. We drew with Queens Park Rangers 0-0 and went on to beat champions-elect Charlton Athletic in our final home game to finish 21st. That was a turning point for the club, the next season we qualified for the play-offs in 6th position and have not finished lower than that since.

ALBION FORMRATE: VERY GOOD

MEN-OF-THE-MATCH: CHRIS BRUNT / DO-HEON KIM

MAN-OF-THE-SEASON: ZOLTAN GERA

We're unbeaten in our final nine league matches of the season. Remarkably we won our last four away games; picked up five wins and two draws from our last seven matches on the road and recorded more away victories than any other Championship side, to finish two points clear of Stoke City, the other automatically promoted club.

We last won promotion as Champions almost a century ago, on Saturday 29th April 1911 to be exact. A little research shows that, despite five wins and a draw from our previous six games, we entered the final fixture at home to Huddersfield Town not even certain of one of the two promotion places on offer. Bolton Wanderers were top with 51 points (two points for a win in those days of course); Albion also had 51 points, but our goal difference was inferior to "The Trotters" and to 3rd placed Chelsea who had 49 points. Bolton had beaten Chelsea 2-0 in the preceding midweek, so must have been considered favourites, but any of the three could have taken the title. We won 1-0 through a Fred Buck penalty and were assured of the Championship when news came through that Bolton had lost 2-1 at Birmingham. Curiously, Chelsea failed to take advantage of the Northerners slip-up; they lost 3-1 at lowly Gainsborough Trinity (who were to drop out of the league for ever just twelve months later). Those were the days!

Only ten clubs have played more seasons in the top flight of English football than West Bromwich Albion. Next season will be our 72nd at the top, in either the old Division One or the Premier League, exactly double the 36 we have spent in the second tier, with a further 2 spent languishing at the third level.

smethwick batman:

Championes, championes, oh le, oh le, oh le.

Nearly chumpiones actually, especially first half, when we contrived to serve up one of our most lacklustre displays of the season just when everyone was in party mood.

Not so much that the player's weren't up for it (though that's arguable too) more that they felt they had to show they were the billy big knobs football side of the division. The over elaborate, intricate inter passing was easily broken down by QPR and their more direct style (which Bednar in particular was crying out for) saw them the better side for half and hour in terms of both possession, spirit and chances.

Indeed after lots of pressure and quick crossing they scored through Blackstock (me and big frank right in line with it) but Kiely "did a Roy Carroll" and fetched it back on to the goal line and got away with it. We still managed to threaten, their keeper pulling off a world class save to stop Roman burying an early chance and saving again well from Brunt although the latter should ahve kept his head and crossed for a simple tap in.

Then a ref for the second time this season made what I thought was a shocking decision and reduced QPR to ten men. Rowlands whole body language told you there was no intent, none of our players went bonkers though mad dog started to have a go then also calmed down and when the red card came out i couldn't believe it.

So second half a cake walk in many ways due largely to keeping the ball like a bunch of Italians in the sixties when Mogga bizarrely switched to a 4-5-1 with Phillips up front on his own. Well actually, nobody up front at all in target man terms and kev was often deeper than Gera, Kim or Brunty. It worked quite well to be fair after we went in front thanks to good work from Gera on the right from a Phillips chip in and Kim following up to head home. Brunty, who continues to delight and frustrate in equal doses, struck the bar with a pearler and then buried a direct free kick Rivelinho would have been proud of (look him up young uns).

Lots of funny, necessary subbing, Luke Moore missed a total sitter, QPR ran out of steam and we coasted home. Lovely watching the trophy raised at last after 88 years. Interesting body language stuff to note:

1. Gera, who had a poor first half like most others, played very well on the right second half, constantly berated his team mates and berated Mogga and the bench about the substitution, quite clearly mouthing "What?" and holding his hands to his head when Robbo went off for Luke Moore.
2. At the celebrations, the other players joined the crowd in doing the Dalai Lama bit to Gera when he took the cup.
3. Kiely clearly did not want to take the cup and go up to the crowd and had to be talked into it by Greening. He then pretended to drop it on the way. Played very well today actually, typical!
4. Moore stayed out of it and doesn't look part of the camaraderie. Miller was by contrast so ecstatic and boinging I thought he was on drugs and probably didn't get a run out in case he was tested. His orange boots will be on ebay tonight if somebody can find the pair and put them together.
5. Fans utterly fantastic and players genuinely and obviously appreciative.
6. Last two players off the pitch were Zolly and Johnno, hugging like young lovers. Zolly kept his shirt on throughout though johnno was hunkily stripped to waist so Sorry niet picksi Zoltan showing titties (for board members with long memories - wonder if he's be back on with another request this summer?)
7. Manager stood away for ages and left players to enjoy the moment. Nobody, I mean nobody, chided him. Great respect there and a definite and sensible distance between affection for each other and over familiarity with the boss. A proper headmaster. Baggie Bird was the only one right at the end to walk up and tentatively shake his hand. Bit brave if you ask me.

Player marks

• Butterfingers 8 Couldn't fault him. Splendid and great distribution for a change.
• The Mad Hatter 7 He looked like he had one barmy moment left in him in the last game, red faced and charging about. When he got booked Mogga got him off quick. Played adequately but looked like he wanted a fight all afternoon.
• The new Curtis Davies 6 Wasn't. Blackstock gave him a lot of trouble. Like so many today looked like he'd rather be in Tenerefife (fife? oh you know where I mean)
• Son of QPR legend 8 Splendid first half though distribution a bit wonky. god knows he needed to be
• The Huguenot 7 No complaints. Promises well for the prem.
• Muslim Bible 6 (No honestly, as has been posted before how hard is this to pronounce man on rangers tannoy. its korreeen, not koraaan. Too tippy tappy and Fabregas - one shot with the wrong foot first half was just silly, Robert.
• Water Walker 7 Better second half but must learn to be more direct in miracles.
• Bloke from Sheffield 6 Absolutely crap became pretty good became sublime. they're a funny lot from oop north.
• Ghoulash 8 MOM for second half.Wore a Kev Phillips mask for the celebrations. Cared far more during the game from what I saw.
• Clark Kent 6 Poor first half, adequate second but coasting and strolling about now.
• The Arssh (one for jim curry) 7 Wanted to get stuck in but his mates wouldn't first half. Presumably now gone to Harley st to get his meat and two veg stitched up properly. (roman, not jim).
• Lurpak 7 Did fine.I've always liked him and the ladies after the final whistle loved him with his shirt off.
• Our Boy Lollipop 6 Pop that one in son and all is forgiven. You don't look like you want to be here. the red boots are marginally pretiier than the blue ones.
• Kim Il Sung 7 Excerrent performance son, that'll teach Hrans Brixx to question your integrity (this will be lost on anyone who isn't into Team America).

oshawabaggie:

Well Done you Baggies (fans too, of course)!! What an entertaining year and I haven't seen a minute of it - not even on TV, as I'm in Canada. But I've been able to live it all through the pages of 'Boing'.

Thanks to Dave Watkin, Smethwick Batman, Brendan Clegg and a host of other characters (fickle as hell, but wildly passionate) I've been able to put some 'meat' on the bones offered up by the BBC sports live ticker. Anyone who has stared at a screen waiting for it to refresh and announce an Albion equalizer knows how excruciating it is. Blackpool was the worst.... and the best in the end.

Now we're back in the Premier the Baggies will be on TV in Canada next season - can't wait.

Thanks to all you scribes. Keep it up. Boing Boing!!