Never in doubt! Albion's 2004 play-off final victory

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Today marks 18 years since Albion's promotion via the play-offs to the Championship.

Luke Nicoli

2022-05-30T05:00:00Z

Chris Iwelumo joined Albion on loan for the second half of the 2003/04 season.

Albion’s Play-Off final success against Bristol City was never in doubt. It was done and dusted before a ball had been kicked. Hand the trophy over now.

These are not the pre-match ramblings of the most one-eyed Albion fan or even a Robins pessimist whose side had been stuck in a third-tier rut for five years. No, these were the words of Seagulls striker Chris Iwelumo, who was adamant his loan spell from Stoke City would end in a blaze of glory.

So what had sparked such supreme confidence in the burly frontman? Two words: Swindon Town. Ten days earlier, Mark McGhee’s side had fought back from the death in the semi-final, second leg, thanks to Adam Virgo’s last-gasp injury-time header. A 4-3 penalty shoot-out success then sent Withdean into further raptures and released a feel-good factor that emanated throughout the squad.

“After the semi-final, there was no thought other than we are getting promoted,” Iwelumo recalled. “It was like there could be no other outcome.

“As strange as that sounds, that’s how we felt. There was so much confidence, just a great buzz around everyone, from top to bottom, and I think that’s what you need.

The striker was fouled for the penalty that Albion scored the winner from.

“Charlie Oatway filmed us on the day of the final and watching it back, you could see on the way to the stadium how confident we were. It was bizarre, getting ready, knowing that you were going to win.

“Before the game, a list was also put up showing certain stadiums you could be visiting if you won or lost. I liked that, it puts things in perspective, really hits home, but like I said, there was just that air of confidence that we knew were going to win.

“To be in that frame of mind before a final, I’ve never experienced that. I’ve been promoted four times, and two of them through the play-offs, and there’s never been that kind of feeling in the camp.”

Such confidence did not necessarily translate to a dominant performance – more a desire to just get over the line. “We just didn’t want an open football game, and it wasn’t,” recalled team-mate Nathan Jones. “We ruined the final, but we didn’t care about that.”

From the opening exchanges, it was clear how the game would pan out. City had the lion’s share of possession but – thanks to Albion’s competitiveness all over the pitch – they failed to make their dominance count.

Their best effort of the opening half was a free-kick from Tom Doherty, but it was Leon Knight who came closer, with a dipping effort that came back off the crossbar after Jones had been fouled.

As the second half got underway, City found themselves camped in the Albion half with Doherty and Brian Tinnion taking the upper hand in midfield.

McGhee’s men had to show their battling qualities again during that period of pressure but gradually Iwelumo became more of an outlet and started to influence the game.

His first contribution was a rushed effort after he was released by Virgo’s wonderful diagonal pass. He also went close with a flicked header from John Piercey’s pinpoint cross.

Leon Knight fired in from the penalty spot to secure Albion's promotion.

Then, with seven minutes to go, came the defining moment of the game. Iwelumo broke into the City box and, as he prepared to pull the trigger, he was upended by Danny Coles’ clumsy challenge. Referee Richard Beeby immediately pointed to the spot.

“You remember little incidents,” Chris added. “I remember a 40-yard volley that I tried to take on, and then when I got brought down for the penalty.

“I took the ball for a run, which was probably quite unlike myself, and I found myself in there. I got a little nick, and the big man left one on me, so it was a blatant penalty. He’s taken my legs away from me.

“Leon said to me the day before that he was going to get a penalty, and as soon as it was awarded on the day, I had to remind him about the banter we’d had.

“I ask him if he wanted to take it but that was never in doubt. He was just so confident in his own ability that it was frightening. He was an awesome player, a great finisher, and he just tucked it away with confidence.”

There was very little keeper Steve Phillips could do to stop Knight’s spot-kick and the image of the pint-sized striker whipping his shirt off and launching it skywards is one of the most vivid from the Withdean Years.

Try as they might, there was no coming back for the Robins. Albion’s spirit had shone through and the final whistle was greeted with a crescendo of noise from the blue-and-white half of the Millennium Stadium.

“You’re just overwhelmed really,” Chris recalled. “it doesn’t really sink in, what you’ve achieved, until later on. You kind of just go with the flow and enjoy the moment, but it was brilliant.

“When I look back now, it was an awesome day, played in a fantastic stadium and the support we had was unbelievable. Our fans made a lot of noise from the first minute to the last.

“Success came as a result of us being a really, really special group of lads who were all in it together.

“I wouldn’t change anything that I’ve done in my career but the only thing I might have liked was to have made it a permanent thing (signing for Brighton). Also, the fact that the day after the final, the lads all flew off to Marbella, whereas I was already booked to go to the Dominican Republic, which I was gutted about. I’m sure the celebrations lasted for days!”

Brighton: Roberts, Virgo, Cullip, Butters, Harding, Hart, Oatway, Carpenter (Reid 62), Jones (Piercy 78), Knight, Iwelumo. Subs not used: Kuipers, Mayo, Hinshelwood.