During the final day of the 2004/05 season, West Bromwich Albion became the first team in Premier League history to avoid relegation after being bottom at Christmas. Bryan Robson's squad, driven by the motivation of their dire situation, clinched the feat by beating Portsmouth 2-0, while their competitors faltered. Norwich City, the only team needing a victory to stay safe, suffered a crushing 6-0 defeat, which sealed their relegation. This remarkable survival story highlighted the unpredictable nature of the league and the dramatic final day of that season.
I still don't know how we pulled it off! admits Earnshaw, 20 years on speaking to FourFourTwo. The manager who signed me, Gary Megson, was sacked halfway through a difficult season. Nobody had ever stayed up after being rock-bottom at Christmas, but that motivated us. We had nothing to lose.
For the first time since the inaugural Premier League season in 1992-93, no team was assured of relegation going into the final day of the 2004/05 season.
West Brom at one stage had been eight points adrift from safety. But they did their part by beating Portsmouth 2-0.
Norwich were the only side to have their fate completely in their own hands. They required a first away victory of the season at Craven Cottage vs Fulham which would relegate everyone else in the process. Instead, they were thrashed 6-0 and went down.
Collection
[
|
...
]