West Brom pulled off their Barclays Premiership survival miracle and sparked unprecedented scenes of jubilation at The Hawthorns to the blaring backdrop of 'The Great Escape'.

Bottom at Christmas and before the climax of one of the most remarkable of all relegation battles, the Baggies beat Portsmouth before waiting for an agonising minute to discover they had done enough.

Second-half goals from substitute Geoff Horsfield and Kieran Richardson kept the Baggies' half of the bargain to break the amazing tension levels which built up through the first period.

But in truth it will be one Jon Fortune who will be toasted across half of the Black Country after his late equaliser in south-east London sent The Hawthorns into dreamland.

Thousands of fans 'boing-boinged' across the sunny pitch before paying tribute to boss Bryan Robson, who was already a Hawthorns legend before somehow fashioning a fading squad into survival superstars.

Albion's extraordinary afternoon began well when they noticed the names of wantaway trio Aiyegbeni Yakubu, Steve Stone and Patrik Berger missing from the Pompey team list.

And buoyed not only by their own fans but a sizeable contingent from the south coast willing relegation for their bitter rivals Southampton, Albion began well.

Welsh striker Rob Earnshaw could have settled their nerves as early as the fifth minute when he was presented with a glorious chance by Richardson's run and cross from the left - but the Welsh striker sidefooted wide from 15 yards with the goal gaping.

With the mood swinging with rumours of scores elsewhere - and a bizarre atmosphere heightened by Pompey fans urging their own players to "let them score" - Albion continued to enjoy the majority of possession.

But they looked out of sorts up front with Earnshaw and Kevin Campbell failing to find clear-cut openings despite their persistence in the final third.

Pompey almost snatched the lead against the run of play in the 11th minute when Albion's pushes upfield created space for Matthew Taylor, who crossed from the left for Gary O'Neil to spoon over the bar.

At the other end Zoltan Gera's ball into the visitors' box posed problems before goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown saved in front of Earnshaw.

But Albion almost paid for their attacking gamble again in the 16th minute when Ricardo Fuller was allowed clean through but poked his shot wide of target.

Neil Clement was fortunate to get away without a booking in the 22nd minute for pulling down Keene on the edge of the box, but Pompey's free-kick came to nothing.

At the other end Greening's shot in a crowded box was deflected over the bar as Albion continued to press well only for nerves to get the better of them.

Gera and Ronnie Wallwork resorted to long-range efforts which came to nothing while Greening's dangerous cross in the 42nd minute was headed away by Dejan Stefanovic giving Albion an anxious half-time break.

Albion pressed from the start of the second period but Gera wasted a free-kick chance from the edge of the box after a foul on Campbell.

Then Earnshaw scampered down the right flank but failed to cut into the box and hit a tame effort into the crowd.

Pompey almost grabbed the lead in the 49th minute when O'Neil's corner from the right was flicked across the face of goal by Kamara and out for a goal-kick.

Two minutes later Martin Albrechtsen's foul on Kamara gave Pompey a free-kick chance on the edge of the box which O'Neil shot straight at Kuszczak.

Albion appealed for a penalty more out of desperation than expectation in the 55th minute when Campbell and Arjan de Zeeuw tangled in the box.

Moments later Baggies fans were holding their breath when Fuller's hopeful effort took a wicked deflection off Clement and was saved well by Kuszczak.

Albion suddenly moved into pole position in the 59th minute when Horsfield, with his first touch, drove Gera's cross under Pompey keeper Jamie Ashdown to put them ahead - shortly after he had replaced Greening.

The strike caused a huge wave of relief at The Hawthorns but contrasting news of events elsewhere silenced the home supporters quickly.

With Albion starting to confidently hold their own more and more minds switched elsewhere and Richardson's 75th minute second for Albion, after a neat one-two with Horsfield in the box, almost proved a distraction.

The remaining 10 minutes of the match were played out in some of the most bizarre circumstances imaginable with rumours and counter-rumours sparking short phases of celebration and despair, and more fans turned towards the executive boxes than the pitch.

Then after one minute of agony as The Hawthorns waited to hear its Premiership fate, a final whistle in south east London sparked extraordinary scenes of celebration.

Norwich, Southampton and Crystal Palace were bidding farewell to the Premiership - but the Baggies lived to fight for another season at least.

Teams

West Brom Kuszczak, Albrechtsen, Gaardsoe, Robinson, Clement, Gera, Wallwork, Richardson, Greening (Horsfield 58), Earnshaw (Kanu 84), Campbell.

Subs Not Used: Moore, Murphy, Inamoto.

Goals: Horsfield 58, Richardson 75.

Portsmouth Ashdown, Primus, De Zeeuw, Stefanovic, Taylor, Keene (Mezague 81), Cisse, Hughes (Skopelitis 50), O'Neil, Fuller, Kamara (Rodic 65).

Subs Not Used: Chalkias, Duffy.

Booked: Fuller.

Att: 27,751

Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).