West Brom 2-2 QPR: Slaven Bilic’s side are PROMOTED to the Premier League

One of football’s most colourful figures is back in the Premier League after West Brom’s draw with QPR ensured Slaven Bilic would have another crack at the England’s top flight.

After accusing his side of ‘collapsing under pressure’ in defeat at Huddersfield last week, Bilic cut an agitated figure on the touchline as he watched them squeeze over the line on an agonising final evening in the Championship.

With this game locked at 2-2, Bilic learned Barnsley had taken a late lead at Brentford, leaving Brentford needing two goals in record time to overhaul Albion. Bilic shouted himself hoarse as he tried to tell his players to hold what they had. When the final whistle blew, they still had to wait for confirmation from Griffin Park that the job was done.

West Brom have been automatically promoted back into the Premier League next season

A point was enough for Slaven Bilic’s Baggies to go up in second place behind Leeds United

It was on-loan Callum Robinson who provided West Ham’s final goal to secure promotion

Eventually the good news came through and Albion’s players leapt on each other in joy and relief, matched by those in the boardroom as they contemplated the £170million Albion will land for promotion. Music belted around the empty ground. At this point Bilic showed his class, congratulating Rangers on their display and leaving his players to enjoy their moment.

Rangers had taken a shock lead through Ryan Manning but Grady Diangana levelled before half-time and when Callum Robinson put Albion in front, the matter seemed closed. But Eberechi Eze’s brilliant equaliser meant Bilic had to wait until the very end.

Bilic, who was sacked by West Ham in 2017 despite outperforming many who held the job before and since, has returned to the top table. The charismatic Croatian was sent a good luck message by his friend Goran Ivanisevic on Twitter before the match and the 2001 Wimbledon champion would been celebrating at full-time.

Bilic made four changes to the side beaten at Huddersfield and his side were on the front foot early, even though they struggled to test Joe Lumley seriously.

Diangana took a heavy touch when clean through early on, allowing Lumley to claim at his feet, before Robinson headed ex-QPR man Darnell Furlong’s cross wide.

Lumley then dealt well with shots long-range shots from Filip Krovinovic and Romaine Sawyers, and Matheus Pereira twice shot well over from promising positions following good work on the left by Diangana.

Though QPR’s mobile front three looked bright in possession, they had caused Albion few problems – until they took a shock lead in the 35th minute.

QPR’s Ryan Manning and Eberechi Eze goals were not enough to deny West Brom promotion

Manning’s initial shot was blocked but the rebound fell perfectly for the left-back, who drove a low shot into the bottom corner. A disbelieving Bilic briefly removed his glasses and from the kick-off, his stunned left-back Dara O’Shea passed the ball straight into touch, under no pressure.

Shortly before half-time, all three automatic promotion candidates – Albion, Brentford and Fulham – were trailing. To Bilic’s relief, his team were the first to respond as Robinson played a neat reverse pass to Diangana, who fired through Lumley’s legs for the equaliser.

In stoppage time, Robinson had a close-range effort ruled out for a marginal offside call, and the same player volleyed wide after Yoann Barbet misjudged a headed clearance.

Albion continued to press and Robinson came close again as he slid towards Pereira’s curling cross and only just failed to make contact.

Thankfully for Albion, the on-loan Sheffield United forward was in the perfect spot in the 50 minutes. Diangana’s clever footwork took him away from Luke Amos and Osman Kakay on the left and Robinson was there to steer the low ball home from six yards.

 Grady Diangana responded with a goal prior to half-time before Robinson found the net

On-loan Robinson tapped in West Brom’s second goal to help the Baggies gain promotion

As Bilic punched the air, the delighted Robinson leapt into the empty Birmingham Road End and screamed with joy.

Robinson had a similarly easy chance to seal the deal five minutes later as he was picked out by Pereira yet this time the finish was poor and guided wide of the near post. Moments later, Lumley fumbled a weak shot from Robinson and was relieved only to concede a corner.

Yet just when Albion appeared ready to deliver the decisive blow, Rangers equalised. O’Shea was caught out of position by a cross-field pass and Eze gathered the ball before sending a glorious effort into the top-left corner.

Albion sent on Chris Brunt for the 421st appearance of his 13-year career at the club he will leave when the season ends. Soon after Brunt’s arrival, Lumley made a remarkable stop to deny Krovinovic from point-blank range.