West Brom and Southampton have booked their place in the Championship playoffs and now have to qualify for Wembley to earn the right to join Leicester and Ipswich in the Premier League.
The pair meet at The Hawthorns on Sunday at 14:15 in the first leg of their semi-final in a match that looks a close one to call.
- WEST BROM DRAW NO BET
- UNDER 2.5 GOALS
- BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE TO SCORE ANYTIME
Albion’s Home Record May Tip Balance
Southampton fans may be pleased enough to see their team pitched against West Brom in the Championship playoff semi-finals as they have won four of their last five meetings with the Baggies, including both of this year’s matches.
However, neither team have been hitting the heights in the final weeks of the season and it could just be that the home outfit can gain a slight advantage from their first meeting on Sunday.
While it is only a couple of months since the Saints collected a 2-0 win at The Hawthorns, Albion have won nine of their last 12 games at their Midlands base and will be delighted to have ended a three-match losing sequence with a 3-0 win over Preston in their final game of the regular campaign.
Southampton won on the final day at a deflated Leeds, but they had taken just one point from their previous four away games, which included a 5-0 thumping at champions Leicester.
Russell Martin’s side have been aware they would be in the playoffs for some time - they finished nine points behind second-placed Ipswich and 17 ahead of seventh-placed Hull - so it could be that Albion are a bit more on the ball in the opener, but taking the draw-no-bet option in what should be a close game looks the sensible option.
Goals May Be A Premium
West Brom’s best hope of taking a first-leg advantage to St Mary’s will be to keep things tight at the back, but they have been pretty adept at doing that on their own patch, so it would be a surprise if there are many goals in this clash.
The Saints will look to hit Albion on the break, but the chances may not arise against a team who have conceded just 17 goals in 23 home league games this season.
Saturday’s win over North End was their 12th clean sheet at the Hawthorns this season and seven of those have come in their last 12 games.
That was only the second time in their last 15 at home that Carlos Corberan’s side have scored more than twice, so fewer than three goals looks likely.
Thomas-Asante A Chief Goal Threat
While there may not be many goals, Baggies striker Brandon Thomas-Asante could be the man who makes his mark.
He has scored 11 goals for Albion this season and is streets ahead of his team-mates in terms of goal attempts and shots on target this term.
Thomas-Asante has had 17 attempts in his last five starts so he should make a big impression. It is worth chancing that he can get on the scoresheet.
BRANDON THOMAS- ASANTE TO SCORE ANYTIME
