BILIC BOYS ARE BACK IN BIG TIME
ONE of the game’s most colourful figures is back in the Premier League as Slaven Bilic guided West Bromwich Albion to promotion.
But it was a tense night and Bilic cut an agitated figure on the touchline as his side squeeze over the line in an agonising final evening in the Championship.
‘I managed my country (Croatia) for six years and I said no matter which club I manage nothing will compare when you are manager of your national team,’ said Bilic. ‘But I feel as proud as I felt then. It’s at the top.’
QPR had taken a shock lead through Ryan Manning but Grady Diangana levelled before half-time and when Callum Robinson put Albion in front early in the second half, the matter seemed closed. But Eberechi Eze’s brilliant equaliser meant Bilic had to wait until the very end.
But the wait was worth it and
Bilic, who was sacked by West Ham in 2017, has returned to the top table.
Despite social distancing rules, and several warnings to stay away following a recent increase in Covid-19 cases in the area, fans could be heard celebrating outside the Hawthorns from about 30 minutes after the final whistle, while there were images on social media of flares being let off.
At one stage, several players made their way up the steps of one of the stands, disappearing briefly before returning to the pitch and dressing rooms.
Reports of fans gathered near the ground prompted Dr Lisa McNally, the director of public health for the Sandwell area where the Hawthorns is located, to write: ‘I’m just sending out this plea. Please don’t find yourself in a big crowd of people because that is a significant risk.’
With the score at 2- 2, Bilic learned Barnsley had taken a late lead at Brentford, leaving the Londoners needing two goals. Bilic shouted to his players to hold what they had. When the final whistle blew, they had to wait for confirmation from Griffin Park.
Eventually the good news arrived and Albion’s players jumped on each other in joy and relief, matched by those in the boardroom as they contemplated the £ 170million Albion land for promotion. Music belted around the empty ground. At this point Bilic showed his class by leaving his players to enjoy their moment. When he joined them, they soaked him in champagne, while Jake Livermore shed tears of joy.
‘We’ve got work to do but I haven’t thought about it because of this crazy situation,’ added Bilic. ‘We did a bit of work during the lockdown, plan A and B depending on where we were but in the last month not a single thought about it.’
It felt very different when his team fell behind in the 34th minute. Manning’s initial shot was blocked but the rebound fell perfectly for the left back, who found the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Albion responded quickly as Robinson played a neat reverse pass to Diangana, who fired through Joe Lumley’s legs for the equaliser. Albion continued to press after the break and Robinson put them in front in the 50th minute. Diangana’s clever footwork took him away from Luke Amos
and Osman Kakay, and Robinson steered home from six yards.
Just when Albion appeared ready to deliver the decisive blow, Rangers equalised. O’Shea was caught out of position by a cross-field pass and Eze sent a glorious shot into the top corner. Luckily for Albion, it did not matter.