West Bromwich Albion managed to retain their Premiership status despite being at the bottom of the table on Christmas Day. This marked the first time in the history of the Premiership that a club has done so. Since then, three other teams have matched this feat:Sunderland in2013–14,Leicester City in2014–15, andWolverhampton Wanderers in2022–23, although they secured survival before the final day.
Albion fans invade the Hawthorns pitch following their team's escape from relegation.
For the first time since the inaugural Premiership season in1992–93, no team was assured of relegation going into the final round of matches. In each of the last three weekends of the season, the team that was bottom of the table at the start of the weekend finished it outside the drop zone. The final round of the season on 15 May started with West Bromwich at the bottom,Southampton andCrystal Palace one point clear andNorwich City in the last safe spot and two points from the bottom. Even worse, only one would survive the drop.[3][4] The final matchday was publicized bySky Sports as "Survival Sunday", with accompanying promotional material advertising the last matchday like a title fight or epic movie blockbuster.
West Brom, who had been bottom of the table and eight points from safety atChristmas, did their part by beatingPortsmouth at home 2–0.[5] Norwich, the only side to have their fate completely in their own hands, needed a first away victory of the season atCraven Cottage againstFulham to secure their top-flight status and relegate everyone else irrespective of their results. Instead, they were thrashed 6–0 and went down.[6] Southampton, despite leading early on, lost 2–1 at home toManchester United and were relegated.[7] AtThe Valley, Crystal Palace ledCharlton Athletic 2–1 in the 71st minute, butJonathan Fortune equalised for Charlton with eight minutes left to send them down.[8] As a result, West Brom stayed up, and made history by becoming the first club in Premiership history to avoid relegation after being bottom of the table at Christmas.[9]
After all four matches ended, cameras focused onthe Hawthorns, as confirmation of other results began to filter through. Once the realisation dawned on the players and fans that survival had been achieved, a masspitch invasion was sparked, with huge celebrations. The Portsmouth fans in the away end of the ground also celebrated despite their defeat as, through losing, they had "helped" relegatearch-rivals Southampton. The defeat itself mattered little to Portsmouth, as they would be unable to improve on their 16th position due to 15th-placedBlackburn Rovers' greater goal difference.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^Moore was born inBirmingham,England, but also qualified to representJamaica internationally and made his international debut forJamaica in 1999.
^Johnson was born inBristol,England, but also qualified to representWales internationally and made his international debut forWales in 1998.
^Earnshaw was born inMufulira,Zambia, but was raised inWales and made his international debut forWales in May 2002.
^Dobie was born inWorkington,England, but also qualified to representScotland internationally and made his international debut forScotland in May 2002.
^Haas was born inVienna,Austria, but also qualified to representSwitzerland internationally and made his international debut forSwitzerland in 1996.
ENG
POL
DEN
WAL
HUN
MKD
JPN
NGA
SCO
ROU
SUI
IRL
Joost Volmer (NED)
Delroy Facey (GRN)
Tamika Mkandawire (MAW)
Larus Sigurdsson (ISL)
Sékou Berthé (MLI)
Simon Miotto (AUS)
£10,800,000
£1,675,000
