West Brom finished the 1998 – 1999 league season off in 12th position, however they suffered elimination out of the FA cup in the third round as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Bournemouth in the competition and they faired little better in the league cup, crashing out in the first round as they suffered a 3-0 thrashing against Brentford in the cup competition. Lee Hughes was in outstanding form for Albion as he scored an incredible 31 goals for the club during the campaign.
The 1999 – 2000 campaign proved to be a debacle for West Brom as they struggled in the league as they suffered a humiliating 21st position finish, fortunately escaping relegation to the second division. Albion crashed out of the FA cup in the third round as they suffered defeat against Blackburn Rovers. Neil Clement was named as the clubs player of the year at the end of the season.
West Brom made a huge improvement the following season and finished the campaign off in sixth position, in turn earning them a birth in the play offs. Derby County proved to be Albion’s bogey team in the cup competitions as they crashed out of both the FA and League cup suffering defeat against the Rams in the third and second rounds respectively.
West Brom enjoyed a fantastic campaign during the 2001 – 2002 season as Gary Megson helped Albion gain promotion in to the premiership at the end of the season as they finished the campaign off in second place, earning automatic promotion. Russell Hoult was in outstanding form for Albion in goal through out the campaign and was named as the team’s player of the season. West Brom also enjoyed their finest run in the FA cup since 1982 as they reached the quarter finals, only suffering a 1-0 defeat against premiership club, Fulham in the last eight.