West Bromwich Albion may have picked up more impressive victories in the Premier League, but few can be classed as so important.
Bryan Robson
West Brom may now have the right to consider themselves as an established Premier League club, but they were one of the first yo-yo sides following the turn of the Millennium, only enjoying back-to-back top flight seasons on one occasion before their most recent promotion in 2010.
That one set of back-to-back seasons only happened because the Baggies pulled off one of the greatest escapes in Premier League history on the final day of the 2004/05 campaign when not one single team was already relegated beforehand, with Norwich, Crystal Palace, Southampton and Bryan Robson’s Baggies fighting for 17th spot.
Despite starting that day at the bottom of the table, and being the only one of the quartet not to put their heads above water before half-time, it was West Brom that did stay up as goals from Geoff Horsfield and Kieran Richardson handed them a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth.
With none of the other three teams picking up a win, it was the Hawthorns that was celebrating that afternoon as they pulled off the miraculous recovery, and booked their place in history having been the first Premier League team to stay up having been bottom at Christmas.
But what happened to the 13 men that featured for the team on that day?
GK: Tomasz Kuszczak
The goalkeeper left for Manchester United in 2006, before playing for the likes of Watford, Brighton and Wolves. He now plays for Championship side Birmingham, where he has made more than 70 league appearances.
DF: Martin Albrechtsen
The 36-year-old made 118 league appearances for the Baggies before leaving for Derby in 2008. He returned to his native Denmark to play for Midtjylland, Brondby and Horsens, who he joined in 2017.
DF: Thomas Gaardsoe
Thomas Gaardsoe remained at the Hawthorns until 2006 when he announced his retirement due to injury. He went back on his decision in 2009, joining AaB and then Esbjerg before retiring again in 2012.
DF: Neil Clement
After more than 250 league appearances for West Brom, Neil Clement retired from football in 2010 after struggling with injuries.
Kieran Richardson scoring West Brom’s second
DF: Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson would make more than 200 league appearances for the Baggies. He would subsequently play for Bolton in the top flight, and would join Birmingham in 2012 after a short loan spell at Leeds. Like Kuszczak, the 38-year-old remains at St Andrew’s.
MF: Zoltan Gera
The West Brom cult-hero enjoyed two spells at the Hawthorns with a three-year stay at Fulham in between. At 37, the midfielder – famous for his somersault celebration – is still playing for club and country, representing both Ferencvaros and Hungary.
MF: Jonathan Greening
The Champions League winner enjoyed the best spell of his career with the Baggies, making nearly 200 league appearances. He would go on to play for Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Barnsley before dropping into the non-league game.
MF: Ronnie Wallwork
Like Greening, Ronnie Wallwork was a former Manchester United youngster earlier in his career before moving to the Hawthorns. He made nearly 100 league appearances across six seasons on their books before joining Sheffield Wednesday in 2008, for whom he made just seven appearances.
MF: Kieran Richardson
Kieran Richardson was brought in on loan as West Brom tried to pull themselves out of trouble, and he undoubtedly made a major impact, scoring the clinching goal against Pompey. After leaving Manchester United in 2007, he played for Sunderland, Fulham and Aston Villa. He is a free agent following a short spell at Cardiff City.
Geoff Horsfield scores the opener for West Brom
ST: Robbie Earnshaw
After a decent spell with the Baggies, Robbie Earnshaw would go on to play for the likes of Norwich, Derby, Nottingham Forest, Cardiff and Blackpool, as well as enjoying stints abroad in Israel and MLS.
ST: Kevin Campbell
The striker was coming towards the end of his career when Robson brought him to West Brom and made him captain. He would leave for Cardiff in 2006, before retiring one year later.
Substitutes
Geoff Horsfield
Horsfield would break the deadlock on that famous afternoon. He would play for the likes of Sheffield United, Leeds and Port Vale among others before retiring from playing in 2010.
Nwankwo Kanu
Kanu’s time at West Brom is probably best remembered for an astonishing miss from one yard against Middlesbrough earlier in the season. He subsequently spent six years with the opponents on that incredible final day, Portsmouth, before retiring in 2012.
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