Sir Alex Ferguson took charge of his 1500th and final game as manager of Manchester United this afternoon and what a spectacle it was.
The Red Devils had already been crowned Premier League champions but still put on a hell of a show as they twice squandered three-goal leads as West Bromwich Albion somehow earned the first 5-5 draw of the Premier League era.
Read how a crazy game unravelled at the Hawthorns in our minute-by-minute updates below.
Good afternoon all! After 37 games we're at the end of the 2012-13 Premier League season.
Before we go any further, the teams are just reaching us here at SM so let's waste no time in bringing them to you.
BAGGIES XI: Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Yacob, Mulumbu; Dorrans, Morrison, Brunt; Long
That's four changes from West Brom manager Steve Clarke, with Billy Jones, Liam Ridgewell, Graham Dorrans and Chris Brunt in for Steven Reid, Goran Popov, Markus Rosenberg and Romelu Lukaku.
UNITED XI: Lindergaard; Valencia, Jones, Evans, Buttner; Carrick, Cleverley, Anderson; Kagawa, Van Persie, Hernandez
Looks like Antonio Valencia is playing at right-back then as Ferguson, in his last game in charge, makes a number of changes to his side.
It's also yet another Premier League appearance for Robin van Persie. The Dutchman has a bit of an injury-prone reputation but he's featured in all 38 league games this season.
In the absence of Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick has been handed the captain's armband this afternoon.
SUBS: Here are the two benches this afternoon:
West Brom: Myhill (gk), Dawson, Tamas, Lukaku, Rosenberg, Popov, Fortune
United: De Gea, Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, Giggs, Scholes, Januzaj
West Brom: Myhill (gk), Dawson, Tamas, Lukaku, Rosenberg, Popov, Fortune
United: De Gea, Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, Giggs, Scholes, Januzaj
One name you might not recognise there is Belgian Adnan Jaduzaj on the United bench. He's just 18 and if he comes on, he'll become Fergie's last debutant.
One big name that's missing is Wayne Rooney. The England striker's future is up in the air but is missing this match because wife Coleen is expecting their second child. Click here for more..
Away from the Hawthorns briefly and as it is the final day all 10 matches are kicking off at 4pm and a special treat for you on Sports Mole we're offering detailed live text updates on ALL 10 games! You heard me right.
The only meaningful aspect of the tip flight that is yet to be decided is the fourth and final Champions League spot, with North London rivals Arsenal and Spurs battling for the prized position. Spurs have to win and hope that Arsenal fail to do so at Newcastle. Click here for the Premier League table ahead of this afternoon's matches.
A little further down the Football League and Yeovil have just been promoted to the Championship thanks to a 2-1 victory over Brentford in the League One playoff final. Click here for our match report.
Back to today's game and all the talk is rightly about Mr Ferguson. We love a big story here on SM and we covered Fergie's retirement extensively. The majority of our features can be found on this page and the one after it.
OVER TO YOU! We want you, the readers, to contribute and it's over to you to decide your team of the season. Click here to take part.
It's sure to be an emotional afternoon for Sir Alex and the warmth will begin right from the moment he steps out of the tunnel as he's due to be given a guard of honour.
Today's referee is Michael Oliver.
PREDICTION TIME! With 10 minutes until kickoff, it's time for my prediction on the match ahead. It just has to be a United win in Ferguson's last game and I'm expecting the Red Devils to get it done by at least two goals. Hernandez will definitely score, mark my words.
In the reverse fixture between these two sides back in December it was United who won 2-0 at Old Trafford. Click here to remind yourself of the details.
The two sides are ready and waiting in the tunnel we're almost ready to go.
And now it's time for Fergie's big entrance and he's given a guard of honour on his 1500th and final game. It's the end of an amazing 26-year stint as United manager for the Scot. Hats off.
I'll be doing my best to keep you informed on all the big goals as they go in up and down the country with regular updates. Make sure you keep your eye on the red box to the right though, OK?
Hmmmm. There was actually a few boos when Ferguson exited the tunnel. How odd.
Almost an instant goal for Southampton against Stoke but it's disallowed at St Mary's.
KICKOFF! Here we go then. In a little under two hours' time, Sir Alex Ferguson's career at Manchester United will be over.
Inside the first 15 seconds and Oliver has already had to blow up for a foul on Jones by Brunt. The camera pans to the veterans Giggs and Scholes on the bench. Surely Fergie will bring them on? Especially Scholes who, like his gaffer, is retiring after today's game.
It's a lovely sunny day in the West Midlands but we've yet to see any firepower in either area, with neither Foster or Lindegaard called into action yet.
The first goal of the day comes at the DW and Villa have taken the lead through Darren Bent against Wigan. Remember him?
GOAL! West Brom 0-1 United (Kagawa)
Oh so easy for the champions. A ball is fizzed over to Hernandez and he keeps the ball in down the right before hoisting over a cross that Kagawa meets unmarked, heading firmly into the turf and past Foster for his sixth Premier League goal of the season.
Goals galore at the moment as Chelsea also go ahead against Everton. Juan Mata with the goal.
Long SMACKS THE POST with a volley on the turn but he was a good few yards offside. Still, incredible effort.
GOAL! West Brom 0-2 Man United (Olsson OG)
It's all going swimmingly well for Ferguson on his last day in charge. This time it's a classic own goal as Valencia drills a ball across the face of goal and Olsson sticks out a leg and diverts the ball past his own keeper. Game over already?
Ferguson will have wanted a nice relaxing afternoon but it's all going a little sour in the stands as stewards have to segregate some of the supporters.
Chelsea weren't ahead for long as Steven Naismith equalises for Everton at Stamford Bridge.
Hernandez reverses the ball into Van Persie and he looks to dink it over Foster from the edge of the area but it's blocked by Olsson.
Oh dear, oh dear. This isn't nice to see in the stands at the Hawthorns. PA Sport journalist Simon Stoney tweets: "Few aeroplane signs from WBA fans, flares and angry gestures in Utd end. Stewards now very visible."
The flares being set off by United is likely to result in a fine for the Manchester club. Not the sort of behaviour Ferguson will have wanted to see during his final game.
Back on the pitch and United are retaining possession of the ball very comfortably. Hernandez just tried to work the ball in to the run of Kagawa but got too much on his first-time pass.
Brunt collects the ball and has a chance to break up field but he's well watched by Evans and dispossessed by the Irishman.
Elsewhere Wigan have just equalised against Aston Villa while at White Hart Lane Gareth Bale has been booked for diving but everyone on Twitter is saying that it was a clear penalty.
More goals! Liverpool take the lead against QPR through Coutinho while Fulham lead at Swansea thanks to Alex Kacaniklic.
Back to the Hawthorns and it seems to have calmed down in the stands as Dorrans tries his luck from long range but drags his shot wide of the goal.
Buttner does well to escape the challenge of Dorrans and then find Hernandez on the left who in turn finds Cleverly in the middle. The England international looks to return the ball to the Mexican with a clipped pass over the defence but Hernandez had strayed offside.
There's been two quick goals at the Etihad where first Norwich took the lead through Anthony Pilkington before Jack Rodwell brought City back level.
GOAL! West Brom 0-3 United (Buttner)
What a walk in the park this has been so far. It's just Buttner's fourth Premier League start but he's already got two goals. Cleverly lays in the Dutchman sprinting down the left-hand side and he crashes a low drive inside the far post. Fine finish.
And now Buttner is down injured after a heavy challenge at the back post from Long, who headed narrowly over the crossbar.
Excellent cross into the middle from Dorrans but Jones is there to head it away from Morrison coming in behind him.
West Ham double their lead against Reading through Ricardo Vaz Te.
This is much better from West Brom as they hold onto the ball for a decent period of time before Fortune's cutback is hacked clear by a red shirt.
CHANCE! It should be four. Carrick's deep cross is kept in by Valencia and his volleyed pullback is perfect for Hernandez but the Mexican pokes it wide of the far post. They're the sort of chances he usually gobbles up.
GOAL! West Brom 1-3 United (Morrison)
Buttner miscontrols the ball and it falls for Mulumbu who plays in Dorrans down the right. The Scot drills it low for Morrison who turns it home low through Lindegaard. I guess that makes the half-time team talk a little easier and West Brom might not be out of it yet.
And now it's all Baggies! Dorrans can't quite take the ball in his stride before Carrick dilly-dallies on the edge of the box and just about manages to get rid.
SAVE! End-to-end action as Valencia races clear down the right and passes inside for Cleverly. He then picks out the run of Hernandez, peeling off to the left of the defence, but the Mexican is denied by Foster, whose save ricochets up off McAuley and almost back into the net, with Foster scrambling back to tip it over.
Two minutes are added on at the end of the first half.
CHANCE! Great chance for West Brom to get another back as Morrison breaks clear down the left after an error from Jones and pulls it across for Long who is challenged at the last moment by Evans. Fine, fine tackle.
HALF-TIME: West Brom 1-3 United
Ferguson will of course be delighted that his side have opened up a two-goal lead but they've been sloppy in defence since going ahead. No doubt he'll have a wee word with his back line.
If you've only just joined us and want a quick recap on events at the Hawthorns, I'd advise you to read Liam Apicella's HT report which you can find here.
YOUR CHANCE TO CONTRIBUTE! We want you, our readers, to cast your votes on your team of the season and it's ever so easy if you just follow this link. We'll publish the results of your votes on Wednesday.
To see a comprehensive list of all today's scores and scorers, click here.
As it stands, West Brom will be finishing in an impressive eighth position while United are on course to end the season 12 points clear of rivals City at the top.
In the race for fourth, Arsenal are on course to finish above Spurs after both sides went in goalless at the break in their respective games.
A goal straight away at the start of the second half on the South Coast as Stoke take the lead at Southampton through Peter Crouch.
Romelu Lukaku will come on for West Brom as he emerges in his kit from the tunnel. He'll give the Baggies a bit more presence up front.
WEST BROM SUB: The Belgian replaces Ridgewell so that will result in a change of formation.
KICKOFF! Just 45 minutes of Sir Alex Ferguson's illustrious career remain as his side get the second period underway.
The Baggies' Twitter feed has just revealed the change in formation: "Brunt has moved to left-back and Lukaku on the right of midfield and Dorrans reverting to the left."
BIG GOAL for Arsenal at Newcastle as Laurent Koscielny puts the Gunners ahead.
GOAL! West Brom 2-3 United (Lukaku)
Hello hello! Why oh why did Lukaku not start? He's just curled one home from outside the area with his weaker right foot. Lindegaard will be disappointed not to have kept it out, mind.
And now up the other end Anderson pings a shot from 25 yards that stings the palms of Foster.
GOAL! West Brom 2-4 United (Van Persie)
West Brom weren't level for long! Van Persie notches his 26th league goal of the season by somehow turning home Valencia's pullback under a lot of pressure. Excellent finish.
Elsewhere there's been an awful amount of goals recently. It's now 2-2 between both Man City and Norwich and West Ham and Reading. Southampton have also equalised against Stoke.
CHANCE! Almost a seventh goal of the game as Hernandez has the ball taken off his toes when he was just about to pull the trigger.
It's all gone a bit goals galore on the final day as Aston Villa equalise to make it 2-2 at Wigan. Ron Vlaar the scorer.
As Ryan Giggs gets himself ready to come on West Brom almost get back to within one as Mulumbu's shot in the area is just about blocked.
UNITED SUB: Giggs comes on for his 941st appearance in a red shirt by taking the place of Cleverly.
Van Persie applauds the United fans as they bellow his name from the away end. What a debut season it's been for the Dutchman.
GOAL! West Brom 2-5 United (Hernandez)
It didn't take Mr Giggs long to put his mark on the game. Carrick picks out the Welsh veteran on the left touchline and he curls over a low cross that Hernandez simply can't miss from a few yards out.
CHANCE! What a nightmare of an afternoon Olsson has had. The Swede put the ball into his own net for United's second and he's just missed the goal from a similar position but this time at the right end, volleying over from just three yards.
UNITED SUB: As expected, Scholes is brought on for his final appearance in a United shirt. He takes the place of Kagawa.
West Brom win a free kick at least 30 yards out and Lukaku smacks it at goal along the ground. The ball whizzes wide after a slight deflection on the way through.
United fans are enjoying themselves now. First they sing "There's only one David Beckham," before breaking into "Viva Ronaldo!"
CHANCE! Giggs, Scholes and Hernandez break for United and the former picks out Chicharito who is actually a little unselfish in trying to find Scholes but not quite getting his feet set.
Chelsea retake the lead over Everton and it's Fernando Torres with a rare goal in the league.
JUST WIDE! Morrison is untracked as he makes his way into the area and his cutback is perfect for Lukaku who sidefoots the ball inches wide of the near post.
OFF THE BAR! United almost make it six as Buttner's attempted cross floats off the underside of the bar.
Fulham have just gone 2-0 up at Swansea while West Ham are now winning again against Reading. They lead 3-2 at Upton Park.
WEST BROM SUB: Rosenberg comes on for Long up front.
GOAL! West Brom 3-5 United (Lukaku)
Clarke will certainly be angry that he didn't start the Belgian as he tucks home a simple finish.
GOAL! West Brom 4-5 United (Mulumbu)
TWO GOALS IN A MINUTE FOR WEST BROM! Jones is picked out on the right and he pulls it back for Mulumbu who slots it in from eight yards or so! Nine goals we've had! Can the Baggies somehow ruin Fergie's last game?
YELLOW! Scholes, in traditional fashion, has been booked on his last appearance for an ugly kick on Morrison.
UNITED SUB: Ferdinand comes on in place of Evans as Fergie makes the last substitution of his career.
GOAL! West Brom 5-5 United (Lukaku)
Goodness gracious me! Morrison's deep cross is volleyed back across goal by Mulumbu and there's Lukaku to bundle it home for his hat-trick. Incredible stuff and in some ways a fittingly mad way for Fergie to end his career.
Spurs take the lead against Sunderland as BALE scores yet another screamer. Arsenal are still on course to finish in the top four as they still lead Newcastle.
And now at St James' Park Walcott hits the post. What an amazing end to the season.
West Brom streak forward and they're looking far more likely to nick an 11th goal of the afternoon and a winner.
Lukaku smashes a ball across the face of goal and Untied scramble it clear.
Four minutes of 'Fergie time' for United to find a winner.
It's coming to an end everywhere else and Arsenal have just qualified for the Champions League ahead of Spurs.
Back in the West Midlands and it's Buttner who has a fantastic chance to put in a cross but overhits it awfully. Almost done.
FULL-TIME: West Brom 5-5 United Yes, you're reading that right.
Everyone's eyes are on Sir Alex and he takes to the field to salute the travelling Red Devils. It's all getting a little emotional.
Ferguson strides forward and bows to the United faithful before one random steward comes forward to shake his hand. Ha!
Incredibly, today's game was the first 5-5 in the Premier League era. Fergie goes out on a bang eh?
To read our match report from the Hawthorns, click here.
We're super quick getting our match reports up here on SM and you can find them all by clicking here.
I honestly can't describe how much has happened in the top flight today and you're in safe hands here with us Molers.
Here's a neat little stat from today's game: Lukaku is only the third player to score a hat-trick vs. United in the Premier League after David Bentley and Dirk Kuyt.
To see the final league table in full, click here.
Looking at the stats from today's game, both sides were excellent in their finishing as they converted five of their eight shots on target.
If you manually refresh this page now you'll be able to see a wonderful picture of Ferguson lapping up the post-game applause. What a career and one that will never be matched.
Elsewhere it was also an emotional afternoon for Liverpool veteran Jamie Carragher, who made his last appearance in a red shirt. Amazingly, the defender almost scored a 35-yard screamer in the second half but his shot cannoned back off the top of the post. Speaking afterwards, Carragher said: "I can't believe it never went in!"
AP journalist Rob Harris tweets: "West Brom's best top-flight finish since 1980-81. season. 8th with 49 points."
Ferguson WILL NOT be taking part in the post-match press conference.
Steve Clarke was speaking on the pitch moments ago and he said: "Is there any one here who thought when we were 3-0 down we'd get anything out of this game?" No, definitely not Steve.
Anyway, that's about all we've got time on the match at the Hawthorns and what an astonishing way for Ferguson to end his career. Thanks for joining Sports Mole today and throughout the season. Until next time, good afternoon.
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
