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Comment: West Brom – a promotion that's deserved

In typical Albion fashion, they kept everyone sweating right to the very end.

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Albion players and staff celebrate promotion to the Premier League on the pitch at the end of Wednesday night’s clash with QPR

Dreams have been shattered, dreams have come alive again (thank-you Stoke), and dreams have been achieved – all in the space of just a few days.

The Baggies may not have got over the line how anyone expected – three points from their final four games was certainly not part of the plan.

But this is still a promotion that is very much deserved, for a whole host of reasons.

The story of this remarkable season actually begins at the end of the 2018/19 campaign.

The departures of Dwight Gayle and Jay Rodriguez saw a staggering 46 goals walkout The Hawthorns.

While the exits of James Morrison, Craig Dawson, Mason Holgate and a host of loan signings meant – when appointed in June – Slaven Bilic inherited a squad with huge gaps to fill.

But it is here the Croatian, and technical director Luke Dowling, deserve huge credit – with their summer recruitment outstanding.

The relationship between a head coach and the man in charge of signings often isn't a straightforward one – there are numerous examples of that at clubs up and down the country.

But together, using their own areas of expertise, Dowling and Bilic built a squad packed with quality without breaking the bank.

The £1.5million rising to £2million Dowling negotiated for Semi Ajayi is like walking into a used car dealership with a couple of grand in your pocket and coming out with a brand new Mercedes.

Darnell Furlong (£1.5million) and Romaine Sawyers (£2.6million) also represented outstanding value for money.

The £4million paid for Charlie Austin also now looks a snip – with his 11 goals having been crucial over the course of the campaign.

Bilic, meanwhile, was also free to bring in his own players based on his contacts around the world.

It was a chat with friends in Germany that led him to Matheus Pereira – the brilliant Brazilian who has registered 20 assists this season yet who Albion will sign for just £8.25million.

Bilic also swooped to bring in fellow countryman Filip Krovinovic on loan.

While his relationship with past employers West Ham ensured Grady Diangana arrived at The Hawthorns.

It was when the summer recruitment was over, though, that Bilic truly came into his own.

The charismatic and charming Croatian had the man-management skills to ensure his new-look squad bought into his philosophy straight away.

And it wasn’t just a winning side the 51-year-old had to build.

He may have left in November 2017, but the shadow of Tony Pulis still loomed large over The Hawthorns.

Fans wanted a team that would excite them and play front-footed, attacking football – after-all they are the foundations Laurie Cunningham, Cyrille Regis and Tony Brown have laid.

And with Diangana and Pereira pulling the strings, Bilic’s side flew out the blocks.

Incredibly, they lost just one of their first 24 league games – with that defeat coming despite an excellent display at Leeds.

Some of the performance during that run were simply breathtaking.

Who can forget the dominance shown in the 2-0 victory at QPR – with Mark Warburton’s side entering the game full of confidence following three successive victories?

Who can forget Pereira’s masterclass at home against Swansea – when the Brazilian registered four assists and essentially announced himself as the best player in the Championship?

And who can forget that thrilling derby at St Andrews – where Austin came off the bench to inspire an incredible comeback that saw the Baggies snatch the spoils 3-2.

Following that game, Albion went on a run that saw them win just twice in seven league outings, with that dip in form seeing their 12 point cushion in the race for automatic promotion cut to just two.

But they regrouped and produced truly outstanding performances at Millwall and Bristol City to get back on track.

Lockdown came and went – with Chris Brunt delivering food parcels, Albion greats past and present calling supporters to lift morale and CEO Mark Jenkins forgoing his salary.

And while it’s fair to say Albion’s form was indifferent after the re-start, Brentford won eight games in a row and still could not catch them.

That – very simply – is because for the vast majority of the campaign Bilic’s side has been outstanding.

They have played with style, substance and quality – with the head coach giving supporters a side that they really can connect with and be proud of.

Congratulations must go to Leeds for winning the league and Brentford for pushing the Baggies all the way.

But Albion deserve this promotion. There is no denying that when assessing the season as a whole.

And as the old saying goes, the league table doesn't lie – especially after 46 games.

They could have made it easier and a lot less stressful at the end.

But when is anything with Albion straight-forward and easy?

Bring on the Premier League.

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