It was on 9th November 2004 that Bryan Robson was appointed as West Bromwich Albion manager and the former Baggies midfielder would go on to make Premier League history by inspiring a great escape... with a little help from results elsewhere.
West Brom had been promoted to the top-flight under Gary Megson during the previous campaign but their joy was short-lived following a disastrous start to the 2004/05 Premier League season. They managed to win just one league game and were humiliated by Colchester United in the League Cup before Megson was shown the door on 26th October.
Step forward Bryan Robson. The former Baggies midfielder and captain fantastic had enjoyed relative success at the start of his managerial career as he guided Middlesbrough to two promotions and three Wembley finals, although his next stint as Bradford boss ended with relegation, so it was fair to say that West Bromwich Albion supporters weren't exactly dancing in the streets following his appointment as their boss on 9th November 2004.
Indeed, there was little to suggest that Robson would be able to turn things around as the Midlands club were eight points adrift of safety and bottom of the table at Christmas - every other Premier League club that had previously been propping up the rest when Santa Claus came down the chimney had been relegated. It didn't bode well that Robson would have to wait until 3rd January before the Baggies even managed to win a game with him at the helm - a 2-0 victory against Preston in the FA Cup was their sole success.
That FA Cup win and the new year marked an improvement in fortunes though as they would only lose a further five league games from January to the end of the campaign, winning five and drawing six, although survival would come down to a dramatic final day.
Robert Earnshaw's penalty earned a surprise 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford in their penultimate game, meaning West Brom went into 'Survival Sunday' on 15th May still bottom of the table but only two points from safety.
On a nail-biting final day Norwich slipped into the bottom-three with a 6-0 defeat at Fulham and Southampton were relegated by a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United. The Baggies managed to beat Portsmouth 2-0 at home, which was enough to secure their survival at the expense of Crystal Palace, who conceded a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Charlton.
West Bromwich Albion had pulled off the great escape as they became the first team in Premier League history to survive after being bottom at Christmas.
They couldn't repeat the feat under Robson during the next campaign though as they were relegated with two games left to play following a dreadful 2005/06 season and Robson left the club by mutual consent after winning only three of eight matches at the start of the 2007/08 Championship.
Tony Mowbray replaced Robson and guided the Baggies to fourth place in the second tier before they lost to Derby County in the play-off final.
