SOCCER/English Championship Play-off final/Derby County 1 WBA 0:Derby won a £52 million jackpot yesterday, and not since the Brinks-Mat robbery at Heathrow in 1983 has such a phenomenal sum been purloined so inappropriately.
The triumph is a tribute to the pragmatism of Billy Davies, who last summer inherited a relegation-threatened team to transform them into the Premiership's latest additions. But the manner of its consummation was unedifying. Derby crafted only two presentable chances all afternoon.
It is a pity that a bright West Bromwich side will probably be broken up after this result. They had the look of a Premiership team in waiting. After only 40 seconds Diomansy Kamara was unleashed for the first of several runs through the heart of Derby's defence. His shot went between Dean Leacock's legs but Stephen Bywater gathered.
Kamara, a Senegal international, exuded the sort of quality that suggested he will be a Premiership player next season, whatever the result. Such is the threat of his pace that, even without the ball, he forced Derby's defenders to hold their line just 20 yards from goal. That compressed the entire team so much that, after only 27 minutes, they were defending open play with all 11 men within the final quarter of the pitch. These desperate measures did not befit the occasion.
There was much to recommend West Brom's play. Jason Koumas might have been awarded a penalty after 10 minutes when Tyrone Mears came sliding in, making faint contact with the ball. His trailing leg made heavier contact with Koumas and seemed to justify a penalty but Graham Poll, refereeing his last match in England, did not see it that way and waved play on.
Koumas was unbowed, a searching free-kick to the far post forced Bywater to tip the ball over the bar. His next cross found Zoltan Gera, but the Hungarian's volley hit Jay McEveley.
West Bromwich's best chance of the half, though, came when Kamara's centre found Gera who, with his back to goal, laid the ball off with a simple touch for Kevin Phillips but the former Premiership golden-boot winner hit the bar with his well-struck shot.
But it was Derby who had the best chance of the half. Paul Peschisolido was presented with a golden opportunity when Steven Howard held off Robert Koren before releasing the 36-year-old striker for a clear run on goal. However, Peschisolido scuffed his shot straight at Dean Kiely.
Koumas was again prominent after the break, his first shot well held by Bywater, his next curled wide. But, on the hour, the game changed as a previously anaemic Derby introduced Giles Barnes.
The 18-year-old, targeted by Tottenham, had previously been ruled out for the season but his swift recovery from injury became a big factor in Derby's promotion. He had a hand in his side's first decent chance of the half with a pass to Craig Fagan, who lifted it into the box for Matt Oakley. The Rams captain made a great connection from a difficult angle but Dean Kiely instinctively tipped over.
Moments later Derby took the lead following an incisive break down the right. Striker Steve Howard picked out Barnes's perfectly-timed run and the teenager centred for Stephen Pearson, whose good finish for his first Derby goal proved enough to secure victory.
Guardian Service
DERBY COUNTY: Bywater, Mears, Leacock, Moore, McEveley, Fagan (Edworthy 83), Oakley, Seth Johnson (Jones 87), Pearson, Howard, Peschisolido (Barnes 58). Subs not used: Camp, Macken. Booked: Peschisolido, Mears, Bywater, Oakley, Jones. Goal: Pearson 61.
WEST BROMWICH: Kiely, McShane (Ellington 71), Perry, Sodje (Clement 81), Robinson, Koumas, Greening, Gera (Carter 71), Koren, Kamara, Phillips. Subs not used: Daniels, Chaplow. Booked: Sodje, McShane, Perry.
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).
