West Brom are all-but promoted back to the Premier League after a 1-1 draw at home to Southampton.
Brunt equalises after Lallana puts Saints ahead
West Bromwich Albion are all-but promoted back to the Premier League after a 1-1 draw at home to Southampton.
Substitute Chris Brunt struck an 84th minute equaliser for the Baggies, with only a miracle set of results now capable of denying the club a spot in the top-flight.
Southampton, who needed a win for their Championship survival hopes, had taken a 77th minute lead through Adam Lallana's first senior goal, just three minutes after he had been introduced as a substitute.
The majority of the first half was a nervy affair, with neither team able to build up a head of steam or test the respective goalkeepers.
But the lead-up to half-time saw a flurry of excitement, with Jonathan Greening's rasping drive from 25 yards flying just over the crossbar.
Kevin Phillips was then relieved to see the linesman's flag go up for offside when he contrived to turn the ball over the bar from close range after Robert Koren's pass across goal.
Saints then demanded a penalty after Jason Euell's cross bounced up and struck Neil Clement on the arm before Marek Saganowski lashed the loose ball over the bar.
West Brom started the second half with greater urgency, with Ishmael Miller powering into the box from the right-hand side and seeing his low shot saved by Richard Wright's foot at the near post.
James Morrison drilled a shot wide after a slick one-two with Phillips before Miller's deflected attempt from the edge of the area spiralled wide of the upright.
With 15 minutes to go, Wright came to Southampton's rescue again as he made a point-blank save from Phillips' stooping header after Zoltan Gera nodded a free-kick back across goal.
But two minutes later Southampton were ahead when Lallana burst onto a defence-splitting pass and arrowed a low shot beyond Dean Kiely and inside the far post.
The Baggies should have equalised on 81 minutes when a corner from the left found Clement unmarked six yards out, but the defender's header bounced up off the turf and over the crossbar.
Substitute Luke Moore headed Brunt's corner off target before West Brom hauled themselves level with six minutes to go.
Roman Bednar pulled his cross behind Moore and Phillips, but it was controlled by Brunt and he fizzed a shot from just inside the box past the unsighted Wright.
The full-time whistle sparked a mass pitch invasion from the West Brom fans, with only official confirmation needed to rubber-stamp the club's return to the Premier League.
