West Brom Away Play-off Semi Final Drew 0 – 0
After a disastrous Premier League campaign, at least there was new management for a new division and a long run of successes suggested an automatic return until poor form in the run in put paid to that. OK, Leicester, as is their wont, spent their way out, but Ipswich? Oh well, here we are in the play offs. All of that applies equally to Leeds and Southampton, but both first have to deal with serial yo-yoers West Brom and Norwich, so for Saints it was up to The Hawthorns on an unusually warm and sunny spring Sunday afternoon. Adams’ ‘precautionary’ withdrawal at Leeds was more serious than let on so Mara featured in an otherwise unchanged starting XI who had to defend in depth against a spirited Albion opening. Gradually the passing game got going and some questions were being asked at the other end while there was some relief for our back line. Finding a way to threaten goalkeeper Palmer was more difficult but Downes did force a save while Armstrong could only find the side netting with the follow up. The home side did little more, but Diangana tested McCarthy severely with the Saints man making a fine save. Maybe both benches were satisfied with their clean sheets as there was no activity from that area until Southampton were the first to blink, after more than 70 minutes, when Mara’s taxi finally arrived (Stewart coming on), Fraser replaced Manning to continue at wing back, as he had at Leeds, and Armstrong gave way to Brooks, who immediately picked up a knock that seemed to render him ineffective. Albion waited another ten minutes but then went for four one-at-a-time changes that seemed to take forever; maybe TV demand that it’s done like that? As usual Southampton’s audacious deep set passing occasionally looked as if it might cost them, and we’d do better to try a row Z clearance a bit earlier when it breaks down, but otherwise it was a good shift by the back unit – although McCarthy was again brought into action by Diangana while Palmer needed to save a deflected shot with his legs at the other end. As it turned out, all four Championship play off contenders failed to register a goal first time round so they’ve left themselves 90 squeaky bum minutes (or 120, or worse) to sort out the semi finals.
Three LSSC Man of the Match candidates to choose from:
1. Alex McCarthy. A long time since a Southampton goalkeeper was a genuine contender but now Macca has made the short list two games running.
4. Flynn Downes. Got through the full 90 minutes this time, showing the importance of the match, as well as his (expected) contribution.
35. Jan Bednarek. Stephens may be captain but Bednarek’s probably the leader amongst our defenders.
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