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The Championship play-off semi-final between West Brom and Southampton will be decided in the second leg after the teams played out a 0-0 first-leg draw at The Hawthorns on Sunday.
In what was an open encounter on a scorching day in the Midlands, just five of the 26 shots the teams generated between them hit the target.
Grady Diangana had a big chance to put the Baggies in front in each half, though Ross Stewart came the closest with just over 10 minutes to play, forcing a superb improvised save from Saints stopper Alex McCarthy.
West Brom and Southampton will face off against at St Mary’s on Friday night – live on Sky Sports Football – for a place in the play-off final on Sunday May 26.
How another Championship first leg ended goalless
West Brom flew out of the traps at The Hawthorns and controlled the tempo in the first 10 minutes. Southampton did pick themselves up to take charge of the possession, as they so often do, and came close when Flynn Downes exchanged passes with Joe Aribo and drew a smart save from Alex Palmer.
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Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy keeps the score at 0-0 with a superb save to deny West Brom’s Grady Diangana.
The Baggies matched their opponents when Tom Fellows found Diangana with a cross to the far post, with the DR Congo international forcing McCarthy to save well at his near post.
Just after the hour, they threatened again. Mikey Johnston picked the ball up after his initial delivery was headed clear by Jan Bednarek and delivered to the far post, where Darnell Furlong prodded past the far post.
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Southampton keeper Alex McCarthy keeps out the strike from Grady Diangana before Alex Palmer denies Ross Stewart at the other end.
As the final whistle got closer, the game sparked into life. At one end, McCarthy won the battle between himself and Diangana for a second time – and from the resulting counter, substitute Stewart’s shot took a deflection, with Palmer having to quickly adjust his stance to make a brilliant save with his feet.
West Brom were denied a penalty late on when Ryan Fraser appeared to trip Diangana as he entered the box from the right, with replays suggesting referee Josh Smith had made the correct call. And so it finished all square, to increase the expectation on Friday’s crucial second leg.
What’s next?
Friday 17th May 7:00pm
Kick off 8:00pm
West Brom and Southampton will face off against one another in the second leg at St Mary’s at 8pm on Friday May 17, live on Sky Sports Football.
The winners will advance to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final, which will be played at Wembley on Sunday May 26.
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