West Brom v Southampton LIVE: Championship play-off result and reaction from semi-final first leg
West Brom 0-0 Southampton: Goalless draw leaves play-off semi-final finely poised after first leg at The Hawthorns
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West Brom and Southampton played out a goalless draw in the first leg of their Championship play-offs semi-final tie.
Grady Diangana had the game’s best chance with a header from Tom Fellow’s tempting cross but the Baggies forward saw his effort saved smartly by Alex McCarthy.
Up the other end, Flynn Downes saw his effort saved by Alex Palmer after a well-worked move with Joe Aribo down the left side.
A cagey game afforded both sides few efforts on goal but both keepers remained alert to make smart saves after the break, McCarthy denying Diangana’s effort before Ross Stewart saw his deflected effort saved well by Palmer just moments later.
West Brom will now travel to the south coast to take on Southampton in the second leg at St Mary’s Stadium on Friday.
Relive all the action from West Brom vs Southampton below.
West Brom and Southampton locked in stalemate after Championship play-off semi-final first leg
West Brom and Southampton played out a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final at the Hawthorns.
Both teams had chances to win the game as Alex Palmer denied Flynn Downes when one-on-one while Alex McCarthy made an equally crucial save at the other end to keep out Grady Diangana’s header before the break.
The two goalkeepers also kept the game scoreless in the second period with McCarthy again denying Diangana while Palmer made a stunning reaction stop with his feet to turn substitute Ross Stewart’s effort to safety.
It leaves the tie wide open ahead of the second leg at St Mary’s Stadium on Friday as Southampton aim to return to the Premier League at the first attempt while the Baggies look to end their three-season hiatus from the top flight.
West Brom and Southampton locked in play-off stalemate after first leg
West Brom 0-0 Southampton: The semi-final remains finely poised after a goalles draw at The Hawthorns
But there’s more
Well, the Championship may not have delivered today but there’s still more football on today as Manchester United host Arsenal in a crunch Premier League fixture.
It’s goalless after 15 minutes so far and you can find all the latest updates by clicking the link below:
Manchester United vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League latest updates
Follow all the live updates from the Premier League fixture at Old Trafford
Southampton midfielder Flynn Downes speaking to Sky Sports
“We wore the storm early. The conditions weren’t the best for us. The pitch was a bit dry, a bit hot.
“For the first half an hour, I couldn’t breathe. I was getting burnt as well which didn’t help but you’ve got to get used to it. When you get to the last 20 minutes, we were thinking let’s not concede.
“We’ve got the advantage at home now.”
FULL-TIME: West Brom 0-0 Southampton
West Brom have kept a clean sheet in 19 of their 47 games, only Leeds United (20) have done this more often in the English Football League - Championship this season.
West Brom keeper Alex Palmer speaking to Sky Sports
“It was a tight game. Chances for both teams, it was like cat and mouse like the previous games we’ve played. It was well-contested and a great atmosphere.”
On his save to deny Ross Stewart: “That’s what we train for. You’ve got to stay ready, stay concentrated and that’s my job.”
West Brom winger Tom Fellows speaking to Sky Sports
“A packed Hawthorns is always nice. It was a really good game - both teams had good chances, unfortunately we couldn’t take some of ours but it’s onto the next one and hopefully, we can take of couple of them next game
“It will be different at their place, we will go there, give it our best and see what happens.”
FULL-TIME: West Brom 0-0 Southampton
For the first time since 2011, the first leg of both Championship play-off semi-finals end goalless.
Not a stat many would have wanted to see at the end of the day.
Still, finely poised heading into the second legs.
FULL-TIME: West Brom 0-0 Southampton
Two play-off semi-final first legs, two 0-0 draws.
A couple of decent chances for both sides in that second half but it’s another largely cagey encounter.
Southampton will be pleased to take back a draw to the second leg at St Marys - let’s hope we see some goals in those second legs...
West Brom 0-0 Southampton
90+5 mins: Diangana gets past Fraser down the right byline before crumpling in a heap on the edge of the box. Appeals for a penalty are turned away and the hosts settle for a throw-in.
McCarthy gets a good punch on the long thrown into the box before Reach’s effort is smashed over the bar.
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