Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 27751
Referee: Riley, M

Live Commentary

90mins

The Hawthorns has erupted and the fans invade the pitch in celebration as West Brom stay up despite being bottom before kick off.

89mins

Giannis Skopelitis hits a neat volley, but it sails into the buoyant Baggies faithful

86mins

Paul Robinson fires over from 20 yards, but this game is won for the Baggues - all attentions are turned towards the other key Premiership games

84mins

The lively Robert Earnshaw gets a warm ovation as he's replaced by Nwankwo Kanu

82mins

The whole gound is buzzing as it seems the impossible may just happen and the Baggies could stay up - the tension has grown to unbelievable proportions

81mins

Valery Mezague comes on for Matthew Taylor

80mins

Cheers are erupitng from around the Hawrhorns as news of goals elsewhere filter through

75mins

Kieran Richardson makes it 2-0 eith a well taken shot but West Brom need Charlton to score against Crystal Palace is they are to survive.

69mins

Zoltan Gera's 25-yard effort is well gathered by Jamie Ashdown as the Baggies lay siege to the Pompey net

65mins

Diomansy Kamara is replaced by Aleksandar Rodic

60mins

Dejan Stefanovic deflects a Robert Earnshaw shot behind, and Pompey just manage to clear their lines of the two ensuing corners

58mins

The Baggies continue to press and the ground erupts when Geoff Horsfield swivels to volley underneath the keeper with what could be a crucial strike

57mins

A blow for the Baggies as the industrious Jonathan Greening is forced off, to be replaced by Geoff Horsfield

53mins

The impressive Zoltan Gera fires in another cross. but the Baggies are beaten to the ball by Jamie Ashdown

52mins

Ronnie Wallwork tries to get a cross in but Matthew Taylor does well to block

50mins

Richard Hughes leaves the field to be replaced by Giannis Skopelitis

49mins

Diomansy Kamara outjumps Martin Albrechtsen but cannot keep his header down

47mins

The Baggies are starting this half much better with a lot more urgency

46mins

Mike Riley gets the second half underway at a tension-filled Hawthorns

45mins

No goals, but results elsewhere mean that Premiership survival is still on the cards for the Baggies, but they will have to up their performance

44mins

Jonathan Greening sends in a wicked corner which Arjan De Zeeuw hacks clear

43mins

Jonathan Greening sends in a threatening-looking ball which Dejan Stefanovic does well to clear

40mins

Aliou Cisse hits a cracking drive which just skims the right-hand post

33mins

Ricardo Fuller eatns the first caution following a rash tackle on Thomas Gaardsoe

30mins

Kevin Campbell fires in a rasping shot from just outide the area which Jamie Ashdown does well to stop

27mins

The Baggies look to be settling down and getting a toehold in this game

23mins

Richard Hughes fires in another shot for Pompey but Tomasz Kuszczak is happy to watch the ball sail wide

20mins

James Keene tries his luck from long range but Tomasz Kuszczak is down easily enough

16mins

Pompey are dominating and Ricardo Fuller fires in another shot which goes wide

13mins

Gary O'Neil scuffs an attempted volley at the far post and he'll be particularly disappointed with his effort

11mins

Pompey are beginning to boss the game as the Baggies looks nervy

5mins

Kieran Richardson breaks through and feeds Robert Earnshaw who shoots wide from 12 yards

2mins

It's a nervy opening with the Baggies looking very edgy

0mins

A tremendous atmosphere at The Hawthorns as this vital game gest underway

Match Report

Super sub Geoff Horsfield led West Bromwich Albion to Premiership survival on a dramatic final day against Portsmouth at The Hawthorns.

Horsfield fired Albion ahead less than 60 seconds after being sent on and then created the clinching goal for Kieran Richardson in the 75th minute.

Albion needed to beat Portsmouth and hope that Norwich City, Crystal Palace and Southampton all failed to win for them to survive. That is exactly what happened and the final whistle led to jubilant scenes as Albion fans spilled on to the pitch.

Albion's survival also created a piece of Premiership history, as they became the first club bottom of the table at the Christmas to survive.

The Baggies were eight points adrift at that stage but manager Bryan Robson sparked an amazing revival in the second half of the season that saw them collect 24 points from the start of the year.

Portsmouth had more than held their own before Horsfield struck but once he did there was only ever going to be one winner.

Albion had to wait until the 58th minute for Horsfield to break the deadlock but Robert Earnshaw wasted a golden chance to ease Albion nerves after just five minutes.

Skipper Kevin Campbell and on-loan Manchester United midfielder Richardson combined to set up the Welsh international. Earnshaw was only six yards from goal but he fired wide under pressure from Arjan De Zeeuw.

It was an opening that needed to be converted because as the half wore on, Albion's nerves started to show and it was Portsmouth who looked the team most likely to score.

The pace of Ricardo Fuller and Diomansy Kamara caused Albion problems.

Fuller used his speed to pull clear of the Albion defence in the 15th minute and latch on to a pass from Gary O'Neil.

But, just like Earnshaw, he failed to hit the target from close range as the presence of Albion defender Martin Albrechtsen forced him to fire wide.

When Portsmouth's rookie striker James Keene forced goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak into a smart 20th minute save, the alarm bells were ringing loudly for Albion.

But they managed to overcome the storm and, as the half drew to a close, were able to get a foothold in the game.

Jonathan Greening saw his 25th minute shot deflected for a corner before Campbell was denied by goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown.

Campbell's angled shot looked set to sneak in at the near post only for Ashdown to beat away the shot for a corner.

Zoltan Gera then became the latest Albion player to be frustrated when his spectacular 32nd minute overhead kick was blocked by the well placed De Zeeuw.

But Albion were unable to take that head of steam into the start of the second half and it was Portsmouth who made the early running after the break.

The impressive O'Neil sent over a corner that was headed narrowly wide by Kamara. O'Neil then saw his shot saved by Kuszczak before the dramatic intervention of Horsfield.

Robson took off the ineffective Greening and sent on Horsfield.

Only seconds after his arrival, the former Birmingham City striker found himself unmarked on the left-hand side of the area.

A right-wing cross from Albrechtsen took a slight deflection before finding its way to Horsfield. He wrapped his right foot around the ball and fired in a fierce volley.

Ashdown looked to have collected the ball safely in his hands, but somehow allowed it to roll under his body and into the back of the net in front of the delirious Albion fans in the Birmingham Road stand.

The goal ended Portsmouth's resistance and Richardson made the result safe 15 minutes before full-time when Horsfield turned provider.

Horsfield bustled his way into the area and then back-heeled the ball into the path of Richardson who drilled a low drive beyond Ashdown.

West Bromwich Albion Team

Portsmouth Team

West Bromwich Albion

Portsmouth

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides