Two superb goals from Richard Sneekes and Bob Taylor secured West Brom's Division One status and made it a miserable end of season for champions Charlton.

It was only the second time Albion had tasted success while table-topping Charlton ended their campaign without a win in their last seven games.

Gary Megson's Albion were always on top but had to wait until the 65th minute before their efforts were finally rewarded.

Dutch midfielder Sneekes held off two defenders in a determined solo run before firing a low, hard, right-footed shot past keeper Dean Kiely.

Then, just five minutes later, striker Taylor guaranteed the all-important points with his fifth goal in six games.

On-loan defender Neil Clement chipped a magnificent cross into the heart of the Charlton defence for the dangerous Taylor to find the target with a well-placed header.

Albion, beaten just once in their last seven games of the season, should have opened the scoring in the 29th minute.

A brilliant through-ball from Des Lyttle sent the unmarked Sneekes breaking for goal but he lashed his right-footed shot wide of the far post with only Kiely to beat.

Then in the 36th minute Albion defender Matt Carbon was unlucky with a first time shot that rattled the woodwork after a nod down from Sneekes.

Charlton displayed little of the form that has guaranteed them a place in next season's Premiership and they did little to trouble Danish keeper Brian Jensen.

The keeper did have to dive to make an early save from Mark Kinsella and after the break he made another good stop to deny John Robinson.

At the end of the day it was Albion who deserved the glory and Charlton could have no complaints at all about the final result.

Teams:

West Brom: Jensen, Lyttle, Carbon, Butler, Clement, Van Blerk, Sneekes, Santos (Oliver 55), Flynn, Quinn (Evans 84), Taylor.

Subs Not Used: Adamson, Burgess, J. Chambers.

Booked: Santos.

Goals: Sneekes 65, Taylor 70.

Charlton: Kiely, Barness, Rufus, Tiler, Konchesky, Newton (Stuart 67), Kinsella, Parker, Robinson, Hunt, Svensson (Salako 81).

Subs Not Used: Royce, Powell, Todd.

Booked: Parker, Robinson, Konchesky.

Att: 22,101

Ref: D Pugh (Bebington).