one-year contract, Taylor moved to Bolton permanently in July 1998 for a £90,000 fee. He was the Wanderers' top scorer in the 1998–99 season, partnering Eiður Guðjohnsen as Bolton reached the First Division promotion play-offs. Taylor scored twice in the playoff semi-final second leg against Ipswich Town, to help earn his team a 4–4 draw on aggregate and qualification for the final via the away goals rule. Bolton just missed out on a return to the Premiership by losing 2–0 to Watford in the final at Wembley Stadium. However, when Sam Allardyce arrived as Bolton manager in 1999–2000, Taylor found his chances limited. Aside from his affinity with Albion, he remains a favourite amongst the Bolton support, he returned to the Reebok for teammate and former roommate Jussi Jääskeläinen's testimonial in August 2009. Second spell at Albion With West Bromwich Albion struggling near the foot of Division One, manager Gary Megson signed Taylor in a £90,000 deal, making the striker one of four deadline-day signings by the club. Taylor's return to the Hawthorns paid off as he scored five goals in eight games, including one in a last day 2–0 victory over Charlton Athletic, to keep Albion in Division 1. His goal against former club Bolton – an overhead kick in a 4–4 draw – was voted as Albion's goal of the season for 1999–2000. The following season (2000–01) then saw Albion exceed all expectations, reaching the Division 1 playoffs, where they lost in the semi-final to Bolton. Taylor became the 100th Albion player to be sent off in a first team match when he received a red card against Barnsley on 28 October 2001. After scoring vital goals in the final few games of the 2001–02 season against Nottingham Forest, Coventry and Rotherham, he sealed Albion's promotion to the Premiership with the second goal in a final-day 2–0 win over Crystal Palace. Albion struggled in their first season in the Premiership however, with Taylor starting only one game. In March 2003, he expressed his unhappiness at his lack of first team action, saying that he was forced to train with the Albion youth team, and that he hadn't spoken to manager Gary Megson for four months. Albion were already relegated by the time Bob Taylor made his 377th and final appearance for them, in a 2–2 draw against Newcastle United on 11 May 2003. In what was only his