The top two teams of the 2006–07 Football League Championship season gained automatic promotion to the Premier League, while the clubs placed from third to sixth place in the table partook in play-off semi-finals; Derby County ended the season in third position while West Bromwich Albion finished fourth.

Dean Kiely, the West Brom goalkeeper, made several saves in the second half before Diomansy Kamara scored in the 73rd minute, and the match ended 3–2.

[11] Derby County made a single change to their lineup from the team who won the penalty shootout in the semi-final, with Paul Peschisolido replaced by Jon Macken.

[16] Prior to kick-off, the United Kingdom's national anthem, "God Save the Queen", was sung by Garðar Thór Cortes,[11] and both teams were then presented to Mawhinney.

In the tenth minute, Howard won the ball in the air and passed it between two Derby defenders to Peschisolido whose shot was straight at Kiely.

Two minutes later, Jason Koumas rounded three defenders and with only Bywater to beat in the Derby goal, Tyrone Mears made the tackle; penalty appeals from West Bromwich Albion were ignored by the referee Poll.

In the 34th minute, Derby's Seth Johnson chipped the ball forwards, Howard chested it into Jay McEveley's path, but his low shot was saved.

Sam Sodje was then booked for a foul on Johnson before Paul McShane was shown a yellow card for a high foot on Howard.

Peschisolido was then replaced by Giles Barnes, before Derby's Oakley hit a first-time shot from a Fagan cross which was saved one handed by Kiely.

Gera's long-range shot was then gathered by Bywater on the second attempt before he was substituted off for Darren Carter along with Nathan Ellington replaced by McShane in the 71st minute.

[11][16] Derby County manager Billy Davies said that his players "showed great courage" and added that winning promotion was "a dream come true".

"[24] The final was regarded as the most financially lucrative single match in world club football according to accounting firm Deloitte, who estimated that Derby's promotion would earn them in the region of £60 million.

[25] A prior agreement between the chairmen of the two clubs, Peter Gadsby and Jeremy Peace, meant that as losers, West Bromwich Albion took the entire £3 million in gate receipts from the final.

[26] The day after the match, thousands of Derby County supporters lined the streets of the city as the club's staff and players took part in an open top bus tour.

[27] Upon their return to the top division, Derby County recorded the lowest points total since the Premier League began, thus were relegated back to the Championship.

[28] Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion won the Championship title in 2007–08 to achieve automatic promotion to the Premier League,[29] though they were also relegated after a single season.