WEST BROMWICH ALBION v SOUTHAMPTON
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 28th February 2015, 3pm
The Hawthorns

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 72nd league and cup meeting of the two sides. Southampton currently have the edge in terms of victories with 26 compared to Albion's 22.

Albion's last game on this date took place in 2011 when a late Carlos Vela goal earned Roy Hodgson's men a point from a 1-1 draw at Stoke City. The Baggies' last league win on February 28 came in 1978 when goals from Tony Brown and Ally Brown gave Albion a 2-1 win away at Birmingham City.

The Saints' last game on this date came in 2009 when an Eddie McGoldrick penalty gave Southampton a 1-0 Championship win at home over Cardiff City.

Albion are without a league goal in 283 minutes against Southampton since Shane Long completed the scoring in Albion's 3-0 win at St Mary's in April 2013.

Southampton are attempting to become the first side to win five successive away games in the Premier League this season.

The Saints have kept 12 clean sheets this season, the equal-highest tally with Chelsea. Albion are next on the list with 10.

Albion's last six games: Sunderland (A) 0-0; West Ham United (H, FAC) 4-0; Swansea City (H) 2-0; Burnley (A) 2-2; Tottenham Hotspur (H) 0-3; Birmingham City (A, FAC) 2-1.

Southampton's last six games: Liverpool (H) 0-2; West Ham United (H) 0-0; Queens Park Rangers (A) 1-0; Swansea City (H) 0-1; Crystal Palace (H, FAC) 2-3; Newcastle United (A) 2-1.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

The key duo of Saido Berahino (knock) and James Morrison (hamstring) are doubts for the Baggies ahead of the visit of the Saints.

However, Albion boss Tony Pulis is boosted by the return of Victor Anichebe following his hamstring injury.

Southampton

Sadio Mane could be recalled by the Saints having been dropped for the game against Liverpool as punishment for his poor timekeeping.

Jay Rodriguez (knee) and Emmanuel Mayuka (groin) both remain out whilst Toby Alderweireld is likely to miss out due to his hamstring injury.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 21/10, Southampton Win: 7/5, Draw: 21/10.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Berahino 6/1, Ideye 13/2, Anichebe 7/1, Sessegnon 9/1, McManaman 10/1, Gardner 12/1, Morrison 16/1, Brunt 20/1, Dawson 25/1, Mulumbu 25/1, Baird 33/1, Yacob 33/1, Fletcher 33/1, McAuley 33/1, Lescott 33/1.

Southampton: Pelle 11/2, Elia 6/1, Long 6/1, Mane 13/2, Djuricic 7/1, Tadic 15/2, Schneiderlin 10/1, Wanyama 12/1, Ward-Prowse 14/1, Davis 14/1, Reed 20/1, Fonte 25/1, Clyne 25/1, Alderweireld 25/1, Gardos 33/1, Targett 33/1, Yoshida 33/1, Bertrand 33/1.

No goalscorer: 13/2.

www.williamhill.com

REFEREE

Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

Dowd has taken charge of just one Albion game so far this season - the 3-2 Capital Once Cup victory over Hull City at The Hawthorns in September.

He refereed three Albion games during 2013/14 - the 2-0 FA Cup defeat at The Hawthorns against Crystal Palace in January, the 2-1 loss at Newcastle United in November and the 3-0 win at home to Sunderland in September.

The Staffordshire official has taken charge of two Southampton games this season - last month's 1-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford and the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa in November.

Dowd has issued 110 yellow cards and four red cards in the 25 games he has officiated so far this season.

A full run down of Dowd's record when taking charge of Albion games can be found here

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are now on general sale to supporters priced at £25 adults, £20 seniors (over 60s), £15 students/Under-21s and £10 Under-17s.

WEATHER FORECAST

Dry with light cloud, 8°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

Saturday 27 April 2013 - Southampton 0-3 Albion - Premier League - St Mary's Stadium
Monday 28 April 2008 - Albion 1-1 Southampton - League Championship - The Hawthorns
Saturday 21 February 1981 - Southampton 2-2 Albion - First Division - The Dell
Saturday 27 September 1980 - Albion 2-1 Southampton - First Division - The Hawthorns

LAST MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS

Albion 0-1 Southampton
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 17th August  2013, 3:00pm

Albion: Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson (c), Ridgewell; Morrison, Mulumbu, Yacob, Dorrans; Anelka (Rosenberg 83), Long (Vydra 83). Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Brunt, Dawson, Berahino, Popov. 

Booked: McAuley 48 (unsporting behaviour), Ridgewell 57 (foul), Jones 76 (unsporting behaviour), Mulumbu 82 (dissent)

Southampton: Boruc; Chambers, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Lallana (Ramirez 70), Ward-Prowse (Cork 90+3); Rodriguez (S Davis 78), Lambert. Subs not used: K Davis (gk), Clyne, Mayuka, Hooiveld.

Goalscorer: Lambert 90 (pen)

Attendance: 25,927

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)

A late penalty from man-of-the-moment Rickie Lambert ensured Southampton's Barclays Premier League season got off to a winning start against West Brom at The Hawthorns. Lambert, who headed the winning goal in midweek against Scotland with the first touch of his England debut, coolly dispatched the spot-kick in the 90th minute after Luke Shaw had been brought down in the box by Youssouf Mulumbu. It sealed a deserved three points for the Saints, who had been the better side for most of the contest. They had their goalkeeper Artur Boruc to thank as the death, though, as the Poland international pulled off a great save to keep out Billy Jones' header.

There appeared to be signs of early-season nerves in the opening stages of the game, with West Brom's number one Ben Foster making a hash of an attempted catch and Boruc then giving away a corner by fumbling a James Morrison shot. Southampton did seem to be settling quicker, however, and Foster's palms were stung by a long-range James Ward-Prowse effort just before the quarter-hour mark. At the other end Gareth McAuley nodded a Graham Dorrans corner well over, but Southampton were soon pressuring again. Ward-Prowse's free-kick into the box fell to Lambert, who saw his shot on the turn well blocked by McAuley, and a scramble ensued, with Adam Lallana also striking the ball against a Baggies shirt before the hosts got it away. Albion attempted to get a grip on the game and when Jonas Olsson nodded the ball to Mulumbu from a free-kick, the midfielder struck an effort wide off one of his team-mates. Southampton then had the ball in the net as Lambert headed a delivery from Calum Chambers - making his first senior Saints start - back across the area for Lallana to poke in at the far post, but the assistant referee's flag was raised. West Brom had their closest effort yet three minutes later, with Dorrans curling a free-kick around the wall and on to the roof of the net. But Southampton remained the more likely-looking side to score and in the final moments of the first half Shaw saw his swerving shot from distance pushed behind by Foster.

The pattern remained the same as the second period got under way, with Jose Fonte nodding over - and being penalised for his efforts - before Lambert produced a header that was easy for Foster to gather. Jay Rodriguez was next up, firing against the bar, although play had already been stopped for a foul. In the 56th minute Albion fashioned a decent-looking opportunity but Shane Long spurned it, opting to try a clever flick in the box that sent the ball wide. Morrison then had a shot from the edge of the box blocked and moments later the same thing happened from closer range. The ball went to the Scotland international in the danger zone from Jones and Morrison could not make the most of it, with Chambers getting himself in the way. A couple of substitutions then saw West Brom take off one striker recruited over the summer in Nicolas Anelka and send another on in Matej Vydra, but it was the Saints who had the final say. Mulumbu dragged down Shaw as he burst into the box and Lambert - as he so often does - kept his head to convert from the spot. Jones almost found an equaliser in the last few seconds, but Boruc got down to deny him.

 Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Baggies' defender Chris Baird started his career with Southampton and spent six years on the south coast before leaving for Fulham in 2007. Short spells at Reading and Burnley followed before he moved to The Hawthorns in July 2014.

Southampton striker Shane Long spent almost two and a half years at The Hawthorns after joining from Reading in August 2011. The Irish-man left the Baggies in January 2014 to join Hull City but spent just six months with the Tigers before joining the Saints for a reported fee of £12million.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: James Bowden, Tommy Broad, Harry Brown, Les Bruton, David Burnside, Richard Chaplow, Mickey Evans, Sammy Farrington, Ricardo Fuller, Bruce Grobbelaar, Harry Hadley, Ian Hamilton, Ivan Katalinic, Billy Light, Graham Lovett, Mike McCartney, Roddy McLeod, Carlton Palmer, Pedro Pele, Chris Perry, Kevin Phillips, Graham Potter, Nigel Quashie, Mel Rees, John Reynolds, Graham Roberts, Bobby Robson, Uwe Rosler, Terry Simpson, David Speedie, Derek Statham, Andy Townsend and Stuart Williams.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS SOUTHAMPTON