2023-24 Sky Bet Championship: Play-Off Semi-Finals: First Leg – West Brom vs Southampton

West Bromwich Albion host Southampton at The Hawthorns in the first leg of their 2023-24 Championship Play-Off Semi-Final. 

West Brom finished fifth in the regular-season table after a final day win, whilst Russell Martin’s Saints finished fourth and nine points adrift of the promotion spots.

 

Team News

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Jed Wallace could return to the starting line-up for West Brom after he was only used as a substitute in their win over Preston last weekend.

Daryl Dike (Achilles) and Jayson Molumby (foot) remain absent.

Southampton have no fresh injury concerns to report following their win at Leeds, with forward – Ross Stewart pushing for his first start of the season following his return from a muscle injury.

Gavin Bazunu (Achilles), Stuart Armstrong and Juan Larios (both hamstring) remain sidelined.

 

When is Kick-Off?

West Brom host Southampton at The Hawthorns on Sunday 12 May at 2:15pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.

Stat Attack

• This is West Brom’s first-ever play-off meeting against Southampton in all league competitions.
• Southampton are visiting West Brom for the first time in a post-season play-off, but are unbeaten in four of their last five league visits (W3, D1, L1).
• West Brom conceded first in their two regular-season meetings against Southampton (L2).
• Carlos Corberan’s Baggies have lost one of their last six home matches (W4, D1, L1).
• Southampton have kept one clean sheet in their last six away matches (W2, D1, L3), which came in a goalless draw at Blackburn in April 2024.

 

Prediction

Having ruthlessly dispatched Preston last weekend and in good form at home, West Brom certainly can come into this home leg full of confidence but their attack must be much better than they were here against the Saints in February.

Martin’s Southampton meanwhile put their recent rut behind them with a clinical win at Leeds which might well be the ideal tonic and test that they needed, because they looked sharp and back to their energetic best as saw in mid-season.

Now if they can use that performance as a platform to build upon in these play-offs then I can see West Brom just about struggling to handle them, but the Baggies seem difficult to beat at home currently so I am going for a draw to set up an intriguing second leg.

Prediction: WBA 1-1 Southampton