 The appointment of Gary Megson in March 2000 heralded an upturn in the club 's fortunes . Megson guided Albion to Division One safety in 1999 – 2000 , and to the play @-@ offs a year later . He went on to lead the club to promotion to the Premier League in 2001 – 02 . After being relegated in their first Premier League season , they made an immediate return to the top flight in 2003 – 04 . In 2004 – 05 Megson 's successor , former Albion midfielder Bryan Robson , led the team to a last @-@ day " Great Escape " , when Albion became the first Premier League club to avoid relegation having been bottom of the table at Christmas . This feat was repeated by Sunderland in the 2013 – 14 season , but West Brom remain the only team to also have been bottom during the final day of the season . Despite this success , they failed to avoid the drop the following season , and Robson was replaced by Tony Mowbray in October 2006 . The club competed in the Championship promotion playoff final at Wembley Stadium on 28 May 2007 , but lost 1 – 0 to Derby County . 
