West Brom have been relegated from the Premier League following Southampton’s 1-0 win over Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.
Darren Moore’s side needed a draw between the Saints and Swans to take West Brom’s fight to avoid relegation into the final day of the season on Sunday.
Victory for Southampton confirms West Brom’s relegation from the Premier League
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 8, 2018
Southampton’s win confirmed West Brom’s return to the Championship after eight seasons in the top flight, with an eighth place finish the best the Baggies managed during the 2012/13 season with Steve Clarke in charge.
West Brom’s season started well with six points taken from a possible six after successive 1-0 wins at home to Bournemouth and away to Burnley.
Out of nothing he made something. Sad to see @WBA relegate but it could have been some weeks ago. D Moore deserved the praise and the award this month. Hopefully just the beginning of good things for him. https://t.co/3y6yPbPSg2
— Peter Odemwingie (@OdemwingieP) May 8, 2018
However, after picking up just four points from a possible 30, Tony Pulis was sacked two days after losing 4-0 at home to Chelsea and was replaced by Gary Megson, who temporarily took charge of two games – the 1-1 draw at Tottenham and the 2-2 draw at home to Newcastle.
Alan Pardew was named permanent manager but his arrival failed to deliver the improvement needed to guide the side away from relegation.
8 – Darren Moore picked up eight points from four @PremierLeague games during April – as many as West Brom registered in their previous 18 games. Saviour?#PLAwards pic.twitter.com/ooUHl5HgUK
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 8, 2018
Pardew, who led the Baggies to an FA Cup fourth round victory at Liverpool, took charge of 17 league games, but a 2-0 home win against Brighton was all he had to show for his efforts.
Problems off the pitch added to the disappointment on it when a mid-season trip to Barcelona made the headlines for the wrong reasons. Four senior players, including captain Jonny Evans and England midfielder Jake Livermore, were forced to apologise after a taxi was stolen from outside a fast-food restaurant.
Our fight for @premierleague survival has come to an end following Southampton’s victory at Swansea City.
On to @CPFC…
Let’s finish the season six unbeaten.
Come on you Baggies!#WBA pic.twitter.com/FsgnyFa0H6
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) May 8, 2018
On April 2, Pardew’s time was up and he was replaced by Moore until the end of the season, becoming West Brom’s fourth manager of the campaign.
Since Moore’s appointment, West Brom have taken 11 points from a possible 15 to keep alive the hope of a great escape that would be considered a greater achievement than the one that Bryan Robson masterminded at the end of the 2004/05 season.
Southampton win and are almost certainly safe. Well played, Mark Hughes. West Brom are relegated. Hope they boing boing back soon. If Huddersfield get a point at Chelsea tomorrow, Swansea will go down.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 8, 2018
As the Baggies’ plan for the Championship, they will no doubt spend the summer wondering what might have happened had they appointed Moore, who was named April’s manager of the month, earlier in their troubled season.
West Brom were labelled a ‘boing boing’ side after experiencing four promotions and four relegations between the Championship and the Premier League between 2002 and 2011.
Supporters will hope the club can bounce back to the top flight at the first attempt next season.
