Kanu’s Former Clubside, West Brom, Earn Premier League Promotion

Nwankwo Kanu’s former club, West Bromwich Albion, have earned a well deserved promotion to the English Premier League.

Three teams remained in the race to join champions Leeds in the automatic promotion places. In the end it was second-placed West Bromwich Albion who had the mettle and stamina to hold off Brentford and Fulham.

The equation was a simple one – the Baggies had a one-point lead over Brentford and two over Fulham with a superior goal difference. The pressure was on the two west London clubs to better West Brom’s result and hope each other’s result went their way.

As it happened, all three sides went a goal down. First Wigan netted to go 1-0 up against Fulham, then QPR went in front against West Brom at The Hawthorns.

Brentford, who at that point were still goalless against relegation-threatened Barnsley and up to second, were unable to take advantage.

The Bees went behind to Callum Styles’ opener for the Tykes, and Grady Diangana levelled for West Brom in their game just before the break. Advantage Baggies.

Callum Robinson scored to put Slaven Bilic’s Albion ahead after half-time, but Eberechi Eze’s spectacular strike levelled for Rangers. At Wigan, Neeskens Kebano was levelling things up for Fulham.

Thomas Frank’s Brentford were the form team in recent weeks, winning eight games to propel themselves into the automatic mix before losing to Stoke on Saturday, and Josh Dasilva’s equaliser again handed them the initiative with 17 minutes to go. At this stage, all three promotion hopefuls were level, but it was still West Brom in second.

The crucial goal came at Griffin Park, but it was not for Brentford. Instead, in stoppage time Kenyan Clarke Oduor turned in Patrick Schmidt’s cross to stun the hosts, save Barnsley and make sure West Brom went back up to the Premier League after two seasons away.