Express & Star

'Boing boing bye bye': Wolves fans fly banner over The Hawthorns

Wolves fans said goodbye - but Albion beat Spurs to stay in the Premier League... for now.

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This banner was flown over The Hawthorns during West Brom v Spurs. Photo: AMA

Wolves fans celebrated the demise of West Brom by flying a banner over The Hawthorns during Albion's last home game of the season.

'Boing boing bye bye #Wolvesaywe' was the message as a small plane circled above West Bromwich during the Baggies' match against Spurs.

Eyes were trained on the sky instead of the pitch as the aircraft buzzed around the blue Sandwell sky for around five minutes in the first half.

But, despite Wolves' taunts, Albion's survival dream remains alive after Stoke lost in the lunchtime kick off, the Baggies won 1-0 and Southampton drew with Everton.

West Brom and Wolves are likely to swap divisions next season after Albion's woeful form under Alan Pardew and Wolves' first-placed finish in the Championship.

And relegation would have been confirmed had the Baggies drawn or lost today.

Indeed that still looked the most likely outcome when the plane arrived at The Hawthorns around 10 minutes into the match while the score was 0-0.

However an injury-time Jake Livermore goal clinched the match for West Brom and meant the great escape was still possible - at least until the 5.30pm kick off, when a Southampton win at Goodison Park could have sealed Albion's fate.

When Nathan Redmond put Southampton 1-0 up in the 56th minute it appeared as if Livermore's goal was to be in vain - but the drama was not over.

In the 85th minute Maya Yoshida was sent off and in the 96th minute Tom Davies equalised for Everton. The game finished 1-1 and West Brom are still in the Premier League.

But despite today's success, the Baggies still need to beat Palace next week and have three other results go their way in order to stay in the top division and face Wolves next season.

Anything but a draw between Swansea and Southampton on Tuesday and Albion are down.

Crowdfunder

In March Wolves fans donated more than £1,000 to a campaign dedicated to flying a banner over The Hawthorns.

A statement on the Crowdfunder launched by Matt Baugh said: "Well it's been a long time coming but it looks like the tables have finally turned.

"Wolves are looking fantastic and Albion look doomed. Let's take this rare opportunity to heap more pain on their misery and repay the gesture."

Wolves are celebrating their return to the Premier League with an open-top bus parade and park party on Bank Holiday Monday. Find out more about the promotion celebrations here.