Southampton play host to West Bromwich Albion on Friday night in the second leg of their 2023/24 Championship play-off semi-final.
After a goalless draw from the first leg, both sides are vying for a spot in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 26 May, with Southampton looking for a Premier League return at the first time of asking and West Brom fighting for re-entry into the top flight after a three-season absence.
Given the Saints finished fourth in the table during the regular season – 12 points ahead of West Brom a place below them – they will be favourites for Friday’s clash on the south coast. While the first leg finished all square in the Midlands, Southampton won both league matches, including a 2-1 win at St Mary’s Stadium last November.
Here’s 90min’s preview of the game.
Southampton vs West Brom H2H record (Last Five Games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Southampton |
West Brom |
|---|---|
|
West Brom 0-0 Southampton – 12/05/24 |
West Brom 0-0 Southampton – 12/05/24 |
|
Leeds 1-2 Southampton – 04/05/24 |
West Brom 3-0 Preston – 04/05/24 |
|
Southampton 0-1 Stoke – 27/04/24 |
Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 West Brom – 27/04/24 |
|
Leicester 5-0 Southampton – 23/04/24 |
Leicester 2-1 West Brom – 20/04/24 |
|
Cardiff 2-1 Southampton – 20/04/24 |
West Brom 0-1 Sunderland – 13/04/24 |
|
Country |
TV channel / live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, Sky Ultra HD, Sky GO, Sky GO Extra |
|
United States |
ESPN+ |
|
Canada |
DAZN |
Russel Martin has several injury concerns ahead of West Brom’s visit, with goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu sidelined with an Achilles issue and Juan Larios also missing with a hamstring problem.
Stuart Armstrong could feature in some capacity after missing the last few matches, while Che Adams, who has scored 16 Championship goals this term, is likely to return following a calf injury that kept him out of the first leg.
Southampton predicted lineup (3-5-2): McCarthy; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Walker-Peters, Smallbone, Downes, Aribo, Manning; Armstrong, Adams.
Carlos Corberan only has two guaranteed absentees for the second leg at Southampton, with forward Daryl Dike and midfielder Jayson Molumby both sidelined.
West Brom could go with the same lineup that managed a draw at the Hawthorns, although forward Josh Maja could return to the bench.
West Brom predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Kipre, Townsend; Yokuslu, Mowatt; Fellows, Diangana, Johnston; Thomas-Asante.
West Brom’s away record is far less impressive than their home record this season, with the Baggies potentially coming unstuck against a Southampton side that won both league meetings this term.
It is likely to be a tight and nervy affair, as is so often on the case in play-off matches, but Southampton’s extra quality makes them favourites to battle past an Albion side capable of the sublime or the ridiculous.
Prediction: Southampton 2-0 West Brom
READ MORE ON THE PLAY-OFF HUNT ACROSS THE EFL
