Match Pack: West Brom vs Saints
The play-offs begin! As Saints prepare for the first of a two-legged semi-final clash with the Baggies, get clued up ahead of Sunday with our Match Pack...
THE MATCH
West Brom vs Saints
Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final first leg
The Hawthorns
Sunday 12th May, 2.15pm BST
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Sam Barrott
Assistants: Shaun Hudson, Blake Antrobus
Fourth official: David Webb
Reserve AR: Ian Cooper
WHAT KIT WILL SAINTS BE IN?
As they were for February's visit, Saints will be in their black and yellow third kit.
WHERE TO WATCH
Sunday’s game is only available to watch live in unsold markets and Israel due to television rights:
Alternatively, fans both internationally and in the UK and Ireland can purchase an audio pass which will cover the month for £4.49:
UK subscription holders can watch live on Sky Sports Football.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Russell Martin's side will be determined to head into next Friday's decisive second leg at St Mary's off the back of a positive trip to the West Midlands.
Having completed the league double over the Baggies, Saints know what it takes to overcome their opposition with Ryan Fraser and David Brooks on target back in February.
The return fixture gives both sides a second chance at coming out on top, but Sunday's encounter can set the tone for the south coast showdown.
TEAM NEWS
Russell Martin is hopeful striker Ché Adams will be available in some capacity on Sunday having limped off against Leeds last weekend.
Fellow striker Sékou Mara is likely to return having missed the final day trip to Yorkshire, leaving only Stuart Armstrong and Juan Larios as absentees.
THE MANAGERS
Carlos Corberán: To follow.
Russell Martin: “It’s a big test on Sunday, but one we’re ready for. West Brom have been really, really good. They’ve given us two very tough games, they’re really well coached and organised.
It’s a tough game but I think if you get into the Championship play-offs you don’t expect anything else.”
TOP SCORERS
West Brom
Goals:
Brandon Thomas-Asante 12
John Swift 9
Diangana, Johnston 7
Assists:
Grady Diangana 8
Wallace, Mowatt, Townsend 5
Tom Fellows 4
Southampton
Goals:
Adam Armstrong 21
Ché Adams 18
Ryan Fraser 8
Assists:
Adam Armstrong 13
Stuart Armstrong 7
Ché Adams 6
ONES TO WATCH
Alex Palmer: The Baggies' shot-stopper won the Championship's Golden Glove award having kept 18 clean sheets.
Of those, 12 came at the Hawthorns where West Brom have been hard to beat.
Adam Armstrong: No one in the EFL registered more goal contributions than Saints' number nine this season (34).
Five times this season Armstrong has scored in consecutive matches, with a goal last weekend at Leeds teeing up the striker nicely for a repeat performance against West Brom.
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 83
West Brom: 25
Draws: 24
Saints: 34
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
February 2024: West Brom 0-2 Saints (Fraser, Brooks)
November 2023: Saints 2-1 West Brom (Smallbone, A Armstrong)
April 2021: West Brom 3-0 Saints
October 2020: Saints 2-0 West Brom (Romeu, Djenepo)
February 2018: West Brom 1-2 Saints (Hoedt, Tadić) FA Cup
DID YOU KNOW?
- This is just our second appearance in the Football League play-offs, having been eliminated at the semi-final stage in the 2007.
- The Championship play-off winning team has alternated between the team finishing fourth and the team finishing third in each of the last four campaigns, with third placed Luton Town triumphant last season.
KEEP UP TO DATE
Unable to make the trip to the Hawthorns? We’ve got you covered! We’ll bring you all the behind-the-scenes content alongside the in-game action as Saints meet West Brom.
Check out our interactive match centre at southamptonfc.com, with live streaming of the game, key updates and audio commentary of the match, and be sure to download the official Saints app and follow us on social media for further updates and exclusive content:
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