Just like Leeds, Southampton moved one step closer to the Premier League with an emphatic performance that suggested we are in for a cracker when they meet in next Sunday’s Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium.
West Brom were suffocated in this semi-final second leg at St Mary’s Stadium, the visitors hardly ever posing a threat when it mattered most. Darnell Furlong was not even allowed to launch one of his trademark long throw-ins – new advertising boards having popped up on either side of the pitch in the precise space that he would use as a run-up.
Machiavellian? Maybe, if that was the true reason behind their sudden installation, but the vast majority of St Mary’s did not care. That included Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who enjoyed this victory as much as anybody while watching from the stands in his Saints hoody.
The 30,000 in attendance watched as one of their own in Will Smallbone opened the scoring, before Adam Armstrong struck twice in what soon turned into a play-off party, with a pitch invasion following at full-time.
As if Southampton’s supporters needed any extra motivation to make some noise, they got it via a pre-match team talk from their former left back Mark Dennis. ‘All I’ve heard for the last month is those Skates down the road saying they want to play us,’ Dennis shouted down the mic of recently-promoted Portsmouth. ‘Let’s get to the Premier League and show them what’s up.’
Southampton have reached the Championship play-off final at the first time of asking after thrashing West Brom 3-1
Southampton finished the season 12 points clear of West Brom and threw everything at them, hoping for an early breakthrough like Leeds in their 4-0 pummelling of Norwich the previous night.
They appealed for a penalty when David Brooks was clipped from behind by Conor Townsend while chasing a ball over the top. Referee Tim Robinson rejected the claim as he felt Brooks had exaggerated the contact – an analysis at odds with around 30,000 fans.
After 15 minutes, Brooks should have scored when Armstrong’s pass into the six-yard box found him rushing in, but the slight angle saw him strike the outside of the post.
Southampton’s energy was being summed up by Flynn Downes, the midfielder on loan from West Ham who never stopped pressing. West Brom goalkeeper Alex Palmer tried to calm it all down by time-wasting, only picking up the ball once Armstrong had approached him.
With the game still goalless at half-time, the closest the visitors had come to scoring was when a cross-cum-shot from Tom Fellows needing tipping over by Alex McCarthy.
In the 49th minute, Southampton’s pressure paid dividends when they made it 1-0.
The move started with Grady Diangana’s lazy pass being intercepted by Smallbone, who exchanged a one-two with Brooks before smashing a beautiful strike beyond Palmer. Thanks to one of their own in Smallbone, Southampton could now see Wembley on the horizon.
While St Mary’s Stadium was being bathed in red from smoke bombs, West Brom looked to equalise, with Alex Mowatt’s attempt deflected wide by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Southampton screamed for a penalty when Brooks was tackled from behind by Cedric Kipre, but again, Robinson was unmoved. Kipre had won the ball but only after kicking through Brooks. VAR may not be perfect, but it is there to catch these clear and obvious errors such as this.
Armstrong ran away celebrating in the 68th minute when he had found the corner but the assistant’s flag came to West Brom’s rescue, replays showing it was the right call.
That only delayed the inevitable, however, as Southampton made it 2-0 when Armstrong collected a pass from Downes and took aim for the far corner, finding it through the legs of Furlong.
In the 85th minute, at the third time of asking, Southampton had their penalty. Ryan Manning had got to the ball before Fellows, whose sliding challenge was careless. Armstrong stepped up and bang – 3-0 and Wembley here we come.
Kipre got a consolation header from a corner deep into stoppage time but by then, it was already all over for West Brom.