Derby win big at Wembley

Stephen Pearson fired Derby into the Premiership as his second half goal clinched a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in the Championship play-off final on Monday.

Pearson the perfect time to score his first goal for Derby as Billy Davies' side returned to English soccer's top-flight after a five-year absence.

Derby narrowly missed out on automatic promotion after a late season collapse but they made amends at Wembley by winning the single most lucrative match in world soccer.

Davies the jackpot when he signed Pearson from Celtic in January. The Scotland winger cost only ?750,000 (US$1.5 million), but his close range finish will earn the Rams an estimated ?50 million from the increased revenue that comes from being a Premiership club.

The triumph was especially sweet for Davies, who finally got to savor success in the play-offs after losing with Preston in the previous two seasons.

Third time lucky

It was third time lucky for the Scot, who has underlined his reputation as one of the game's brightest young managers by leading Derby to promotion in his first season at Pride Park.

Davies "It's a dream come true. We've been underdogs for most of the games this season and it's a fantastic effort from these players. It's an unbelievable achievement."

"We were playing against a very good side, who been fancied through the season. We'll enjoy tonight," he said.

West Bromwich manager Tony Mowbray felt his side deserved better and said: "It's a cruel game. We put in a decent performance but you don't always get what you deserve in football."

"Our aim was to get promoted so overall it's not a positive season because we haven't got out of the league," he added.

Davies a surprise by handing Paul Peschisolido just his fifth start of the season alongside Steve Howard in Derby's forward line.

Mowbray brought his players down to Wembley last week so they could get a feel for the stadium and they instantly looked at home.

With less than a minute gone Diomansy Kamara surged past two Derby defenders into the penalty area before firing in a drive that Stephen Bywater saved low to his left.

Peschisolido's of match practice was exposed after 10 minutes when Howard poked a pass through that gave the Canadian a glorious opening, but he could only scuff a weak shot straight at Dean Kiely.

Poll spot on

Graham Poll, taking charge of his last match in England before retiring, turned down Albion's penalty appeal when Tyrone Mears lunged in on Jason Koumas and television replays suggested the referee's decision was spot on.

Kevin Phillips had been kept quiet for much of the first half, but West Bromwich's former England striker nearly broke the deadlock two minutes before the interval.

Kamara Zoltan Gera exchanged passes to carve open the Derby defense and Phillips' shot from the edge of the area grazed the crossbar.

Kiely Albion on level terms with a superb save on the hour. Matt Oakley met Craig Fagan's cross with a half-volley that was destined for the top corner until the former Charlton stopper acrobatically pushed it over.

It was only a temporary reprieve for Albion. Davies replaced Peschisolido with talented young midfielder Giles Barnes and his decision paid off in the 62nd minute.

Howard's sent Barnes away down the right flank and the teenager drove a low cross into the area, where Pearson got in front of Paul McShane before steering his shot past Kiely.

Despite Albion pressure Derby held on and Davies's jubilant side can look forward to testing themselves against Manchester United, Chelsea and the rest of the Premiership next season.