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2004–05 West Bromwich Albion F.C. season

West Bromwich Albion
2004–05 season
Chairman Jeremy Peace
Manager Gary Megson (until 26 October)
Frank Burrows (caretaker)
Bryan Robson (from 9 November)
Stadium The Hawthorns
FA Premier League 17th
FA Cup Fourth round
League Cup Second round
Top goalscorer League:
Robert Earnshaw (11)

All:
Robert Earnshaw (14)
Highest home attendance 27,751 (vs. Portsmouth, 15 May 2005)
Lowest home attendance 23,849 (vs. Bolton, 2 October 2004)
Average home league attendance 25,986

During the 2004–05 English football season, West Bromwich Albion competed in the FA Premier League.

West Bromwich Albion managed to retain their Premiership status despite being in last place on Christmas Day. This was the first time in the history of the Premiership this had happened. Sunderland and Leicester City have since equalled this feat (Sunderland in 2013-14, Leicester in 2014-15), although they secured survival before the final day.

Going into the final round of matches, no team was assured of relegation. 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 on the bottom, Southampton and Crystal Palace one point clear and Norwich City in the last safe spot and two points from the bottom. For the first time since the advent of the current Premier League in 1992–1993, no club was assured of relegation going into the final day. The final matchday was publicised by Sky 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 at Christmas, did their part by defeating Portsmouth at home 2–0. Norwich, the only side to have their fate completely in their own hands, lost 6–0 at Fulham and went down. Southampton lost 2–1 at home to Manchester United. Palace, away to Charlton Athletic, were leading 2–1 after 71 minutes, but with eight minutes to go Jonathan Fortune equalised for the Addicks to relegate the Eagles. Thus, West Brom stayed up, and changed history, becoming the first club in Premiership history to avoid relegation after being bottom of the table at Christmas.


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