Derby 1 Albion 0 - full time

Albion’s dreams of a place in the Premiership were destroyed as Derby County won the Championship Play-Off Final 1-0 at Wembley.

The decisive moment came in the 61st minute when Stephen Pearson converted Giles Barnes’ cross.

The result was perhaps harsh on the Baggies who dominated for large portions of the match but couldn’t get in a killer blow against a well-drilled Rams defence.

Tony Mowbray’s men had the better of the first-half chances and should have gone in 1-0 up but Kevin Phillips missed a golden opportunity with two minutes to go.

The Baggies started the brightest after kicking off and getting the ball into the danger area immediately.

As early as the first minute Diomansy Kamara forced a full-length save from Bywater in the Derby goal.

Albion looked stronger early on with the midfield quickly closing down their Derby counterparts to give the travelling Baggies faithful plenty to cheer about.

The Rams gradually found their feet with Tyrone Mears, in particular, causing problems down Albion’s left.

In the 10th minute a gap opened up in the Albion defence and Peschisolido’s shot was well saved by Dean Kiely in the Albion goal.

In the 13th minute Jason Koumas had appeals for a penalty turned down after being dispossed following a mazy run from halfway.

As the game settled down both sides become more cagey with possession and territory starting to even out.

Derby came more into the game and Mears was unlucky with a shot in the 20th minute after a mazy run.

It wasn’t until the 21st minute that Albion earned their first corner. From the short-corner they won a free kick but Jason Koumas’ whipped-in cross was put out by Phillips.

In the 27th minute Kamara hit a ferocious cross from the left but Gera’s volley was blocked.

As the half went on Albion asserted themselves and it was Bywater in the Derby goal who was the busier of the two keepers.

But Derby were certainly not out of it and showed good patience in their build-up work without really threatening Kiely’s goal.

Sam Sodje was booked for a reckless challenge after a poor first touch in the 36th minute.

He was quickly followed into the book by McShane for a late tackle on Derby striker Howard.

Aftre a good period of Baggies pressure, Jason Koumas fired over from the left with five minutes of the half to go.

A minute later it was Koumas who again got to the byline but his cross was punched away by Bywater and Gera was unable to get a decent contact on the rebound.

The best chance of the half then fell to Phillips who should have made it 1-0 but his shot, following excellent build-up play, grazed the crossbar allowing the Rams to go in with the scores even.

The Baggies started the second half the brighter of the two sides with Koumas again looking dangerous as Albion looked to bring the Welshman more into the game.

But it was Derby who won the first corner of the half but their effort came to nothing.

Matt Oakley was narrowly wide with an effort for the Rams in the 52nd minute.

But that was a rare Derby attack as Albion gradually upped the tempo and took control of the game.

Derby made the first change when Giles Barnes came on for Peschisolido in the 59th minute.

And he made an instant impact when, following good work down the right, his cross found Pearson who beat a helpless Kiely to put the Rams 1-0 up.

Perry was booked after scything down Barnes on the touchline and there was a nervous moment for Bywater in the 67th minute when he needed two attempts to hold Gera’s shot.

Sodje was unlucky to escape with a red card five minutes later for another reckless challenge but referee Graham Poll elected just to give a free-kick.

The Baggies then made two changes with Nathan Ellington and Darren Carter replacing Zoltan Gera and Paul McShane.

Carter was instantly involved but his cross fell to no-one.

The Baggies were now throwing everything at Derby but couldn’t find a way past Darren Moore and his colleagues in the Derby defence.

Phillips and Ellington both went close to scoring but were unable to get the better of Bywater.

With less than 10 minutes to go Albion went for all-out attack, leaving three strikers high up the pitch as they searched for a valuable equaliser.

But it was all to no avail as Derby held firm to secure their place in the Premiership next season.

Baggies boss Tony Mowbray kept faith with the same starting XI that beat Wolves for today’s Championship Play-Off Final against Derby at Wembley.

It meant a fourth play-off final start for Phillips.

For Derby, manager Billy Davies made one change bringing in Paul Peschisolido for John Macken upfront.

It is just 36-year-old Peschisolido’s fifth start of the season.

Albion: Kiely, McShane, Sodje, Perry, Robinson; Koren, Greening, Gera, Koumas; Kamara, Phillips.

Subs: Daniels, Clement, Ellington, Chaplow, Carter.