THE play-off pendulum swung dramatically and decisively in Wanderers’ favour, just when they looked down and out in the heat of a Hawthorns battle.

The clock showed 80 minutes and Gary Megson’s West Brom appeared to have one foot in the Premiership when Sam Allardyce’s never-say-die Whites clawed their way back.

Gudni Bergsson launched the recovery when he climbed majestically to head Bo Hansen’s corner past Russel Hoult and, with just three minutes remaining, Per Frandsen kept his nerve to equalise from the penalty spot.

The Baggies put on a brave face but, after playing their get-out-of-jail card, there would be no stopping Wanderers in their promotion push.

Four days later they completed the job when they won the second leg 3-0 before going on to book their return ticket to the Premiership by beating Preston in the final at the Millennium Stadium. But, until that dramatic comeback they were staring down the barrel of a gun at the Hawthorns, where Jason Roberts fired West Brom ahead on 43 minutes and Lee Hughes doubled the lead from the penalty spot nine minutes into the second half.

That second goal proved to be the turning point. Allardyce immediately replaced the struggling Colin Hendry with Mike Whitlow, plugging holes at the back and giving Wanderers the platform from which to launch their recovery.

West Brom: Hoult; Butler, Gilchrist, Clement; Lyttle, Sneekes, Appleton, Fox (Jordao 69), Van Blerk; Hughes, Roberts (Taylor 83). Not used: Jensen, Sigurdsson, Chambers.

Wanderers: Clarke; Barness, Bergsson, Hendry (Whitlow 55), Charlton; Hansen, Farrelly, Elliott, Gardner; Ricketts (Marshall 87), Holdsworth (Frandsen 71). Not used: Banks, Nolan.

Referee: D Laws (Whitley Bay).

Attendance: 18,167.