West Brom Home Play Off Semi Final Won 3 – 1
A changed shape in the return play-off against West Brom, with Fraser and Brooks in, Manning and Mara out. It felt like a more attacking approach and that was proved wise as the visitors set out to keep as many as possible behind the ball and even run the clock down in the first half. Maybe that was intended to take an excited crowd out of the game, or possibly as retribution for the home management seeking to nullify the Baggies’ favoured long throw ploy by erecting temporary signage down key parts of the touchlines. The visitors managed to keep Saints at bay until the break although a challenge from behind on Brooks might have brought a spot kick; probably our man went down just a bit too easily. What conceding possession had done was give Smallbone freedom to get forward and the player’s confidence soared as a result. In the opening minutes of the second half, Brooks fed Smallbone who had no hesitation in trying an early shot that seemed to take Palmer by surprise as it few past his near post dive. An atmosphere that was always intense reached new heights, but there was bound to be a counter from visitors who now had nothing to lose. That left them more open at the back and Ariba pounced on a mistake to free Brooks who was again taken out in the box; this time it was a solid tackle by Kipré that left Brooks with no option but to fall, but referee Robinson ruled that Kipré had played the ball – not before going through Brooks, though! WBA’s triple changes on 64 minutes introduced more attackers and they were countered by Fraser (possibly injured) making way for Manning as Stephens seemed to move forward into midfield. The clock was, of course, on our side with this scoreline and it had ticked on to 78 minutes when Armstrong (the remaining Armstrong) sent an early cross shot past Palmer and in off the post, with an assist for Downes. The way the game was going, it was going to take something daft to throw this away in the remaining minutes, but even that thought was ruled out when Mr. Robinson finally pointed to the away team’s penalty spot. This was for a two-man foul on Manning, but in live action it looked the least convincing of the three shouts on the night; maybe the way Armstrong was also taken out in the build up helped, and anyway replays suggest Albion had nothing to complain about. When Armstrong converted, we had a chance to enjoy fully what was left of the match, and Kipré‘s last second headed goal from a corner only served to make the second half performance slightly less than perfect. Celebrations on the pitch, around the ground and into the small hours down town (by all accounts) suggested that many thought the job done, but this seemingly never ending season still runs on…
Three LSSC Man of the Match candidates to choose from:
4. Flynn Downes. An assist to go along with his usual defensive midfield stint.
5. Jack Stephens. Effective in defence and midfield.
16. Will Smallbone. More than made up for Stuart Armstrong’s absence, with a crucial opening goal thrown in.
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