Stoke City 4 - 1 West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion's hopes of being promoted to the Premiership as champions were ended in emphatic fashion last night by a Stoke City side unwilling to assume the role of compliant neighbours.
Gary Megson's team needed a victory to maintain any chance of pipping Norwich City for the title but ended up experiencing their joint-worst defeat of the season.
"We've taken our foot off the gas in the two games since promotion was achieved," Megson said. "We've gone about our jobs differently since then."
As far as the manager was concerned Albion's display was encapsulated by the petulant kick aimed at Stoke's Darel Russell by Jason Koumas, which resulted in the Welsh international being sent off.
"The referee said he [Koumas] kicked out," said Megson, who was once manager at Stoke. "If that was the case then it was self-indulgence that summed up the way the game was going."
Koumas will be suspended for Albion's first three games in the Premiership but his dismissal, only two minutes from time, did little to influence matters last night. However, Albion could cite an error by Russell Hoult as a contributory factor in their downfall.
Scott Dobie, taking advantage of Stoke's vulnerability at corners, restored parity with a header after Russell had given the hosts the lead with what was their first on-target shot of the game.
Stoke's second goal was also the product of a set piece, a 25-yard free-kick hit low and with power by Kris Commons - aided and abetted by Hoult, who fumbled the ball over the line.
Stoke grew in confidence once their lead was restored and Commons, set up by a square ball from John Halls after a sortie up the right flank, added the third.
Then Gifton Noel-Williams completed what was becoming a rout when he headed home Commons' cross, before Koumas's petulance completed Albion's humiliation.