Analysis of Doncaster 2 Albion 3

Mission accomplished.

And next season it's back to Old Trafford, Anfield and Villa Park.

Barring a spectacular blow-up from their friends down the road, Molineux will at last be on Albion's Premier League route map too.

But, shortly before 5pm on Saturday, Baggies fans would not have swapped Doncaster for the world.

The sun shone on Roberto Di Matteo day of glory. Despite their best efforts, Rovers were powerless to halt Albion's charge back to the big-time. The hosts did their damndest to deflate the blue and white army – quite literally.

But neither the amusing pre-match announcement banning inflatable toys, nor the same over-zealous PA man's one-man attempt at crowd control at the final whistle could dampen the Baggies' spirit.

Nor could Doncaster's players, despite a fine effort from one of the most admirable sides in a division so often mired in drudgery.

Albion set out for a promotion party. From the moment the stripey hoards rolled into South Yorkshire, there was an overwhelming feeling that nothing or no-one would stand in their way.

Perhaps the occasion lacked the sheer euphoria of Gary Megson's first promotion, the pride of the 'Great Escape' or the bliss of Tony Mowbray's title win. But then, this kind of day is becoming old hat.

No matter because the Albion army still had a fabulous day acclaiming a side who, in a near-faultless final month of promotion-chasing, have earned their place alongside any Hawthorns team of recent vintage.

The match was low on drama yet high on significance and fittingly rich, with the steel and ruthlessness that has characterised the Baggies' latest year of Championship glory.

Those virtues will serve the club well should they be sustained by the rarified air the team are heading into for the fourth time in the last eight years.

But already the qualities grafted onto Mowbray's team by their new head coach have done Albion a remarkable service.

From the tumultuous circumstances of his arrival last June, promotion with three games to spare is an achievement not to be underestimated at a club where second-tier success is taken almost for granted.

A top-two finish was guaranteed with a ninth unbeaten match in the second weekend of April – earlier than any Baggies supporter had a right to expect. In truth the feat was all-but completed before Easter.

It is a fine accomplishment from a 39-year-old 'gaffer,' who two years ago was still mulling over a management career as Mowbray and Co wrapped up their historic title success.

The under-stated Italian has delivered glory to the Hawthorns faithful with subtle changes and a quiet commitment to evolution, not revolution.

Instead of ripping up the Mowbray blueprint that brought Championship joy but Premier League failure, Di Matteo retained the best qualities from his predecessor's reign and blended that individual flair and collective imagination with a resilience and bottle that is all his.

All of those attributes were on display on Saturday, as his side collected the win they needed to climb out of Nottingham Forest's reach despite the East Midlanders' own convincing home win against Ipswich.

For 30 minutes it was Doncaster who held sway and only a smart save by Scott Carson and a fine challenge by Youssouf Mulumbu halted James Hayter and Jordon Mutch respectively.

But on the half-hour the outstanding on-field figure of Albion's season conjured up another moment of brilliance, Graham Dorrans whipping an unstoppable free-kick over the wall and past goalkeeper Neil Sullivan, after a foul by Baggies old-boy James Chambers on Roman Bednar.

From that moment there rarely seemed any doubt as to the result, in spite of one or two scares from the hosts.

The crucial second goal arrived in first-half stoppage-time as a woeful back-header from Chambers was seized upon by Chris Brunt, who scored at the second attempt despite a decent effort by Sullivan to thwart him.

Just two minutes into the second half Doncaster got the goal they deserved when Jay Emmanuel-Thomas side-stepped a horribly flat-footed Marek Cech before finding the bottom corner with a low shot.

But, with 16 minutes remaining, the two-goal cushion was restored through another example of the class that separated the sides.

Robert Koren found Brunt out wide and his fabulous first-time cross was turned in at the far post by Bednar to confirm that the Baggies were up.

Even then Doncaster refused to lie down and Hayter narrowed the gap again on 86 minutes, with a free header from Emmanuel-Thomas's free-kick.

In stoppage time came the final threat to the visitors' party as a left-wing cross flew agonisingly close to Hayter at the far post, but Brunt used his strength to ease out the Rovers forward and the chance was gone.

The final whistle followed seconds later, bringing with it wild players' celebrations on the field and in the dressing room and an inevitable pitch invasion from the loyal legions who can look forward to welcoming the world's best back to The Hawthorns next season.

It was left to the home manager, a boyhood Wolves supporter, to summarise the secret to the Baggies' success.

Sean O'Driscoll said: "This is a difficult division to be consistent in. But over the course of the season they have been consistent in it.

"They have got more consistent results than anybody else so you have to give them credit."

It is credit that is now arriving from their own fans, at a club where Championship triumph is expected to follow Premier League setbacks as a matter of course.

Bouncing back is never that simple, as the partying Hawthorns crowd will be reminded on Saturday when Middlesbrough are subjected to the celebrations.

The clubs were relegated together a year ago, but the Baggies will probably wave the weekend's visitors goodbye after Saturday's game with Boro struggling for a play-off place, as their hosts head back from whence they came.

The grandest venues, strongest teams and finest players in the land lie in wait.

But, before all that, time for more celebrations. And at least three more days in the sun.

By Steve Madeley