WEST BROMWICH ALBION v SOUTHAMPTON
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 12th September 2015, 3pm
The Hawthorns

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 73rd league and cup meeting of the two sides. Southampton currently have the edge in terms of victories with 26 compared to Albion's 23. There have been 10 previous Premier League meetings with Albion winning four and Southampton three.

Albion's last game on this date took place in 2009 when Marek Cech (2) and Shelton Martis hit the goals in a 3-1 win Championship win over Plymouth Argyle at The Hawthorns.

The Saints' last game on this date also came in 2009, Adam Lallana hitting the goal that secured a point from a 1-1 draw at Charlton Athletic in a League One encounter.

The Baggies have scored just one goal in their last four meetings with Southampton whilst the Saints have scored just twice in the last seven Premier League meetings.

Victory would give Albion back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time under Tony Pulis.

The last time the Baggies recorded consecutive league victories was in September 2014, when they beat Tottenham and then Burnley.

Southampton haven't won any of their last nine away games in the Premier League (D3, L6). Their last away victory was a 1-0 win at Queens Park Rangers on February 7.

Albion's last six games: Stoke City (A) 1-0; Port Vale (H, LC) 0-0 aet, WBA won 5-3 on pens; Chelsea (H) 2-3; Watford (A) 0-0; Manchester City (H) 0-3; Bristol Rovers (A, Fr) 4-0.

Southampton's last six games: Norwich City (H) 3-0; FC Midtjylland (A, EL) 0-1; Watford (A) 0-0; FC Midtjylland (H) 1-1; Everton (H) 0-3; Newcastle United (A) 2-2.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Want-away striker Saido Berahino could feature after having clear the air meetings with the club and Tony Pulis. Berahino could replace record-signing Salomon Rondon who may be rested after returning from international duty with Venezuela.

Chris Brunt is available again after recovering from his recent hamstring problem whilst recent signings Jonny Evans and Anders Lindergaard could both make their Albion debuts

Southampton

Virgil van Dijk could make his Southampton debut and Victor Wanyama is back in contention after missing the win against Norwich a fortnight ago.

Jordy Clasie and Ryan Bertrand are both out injured whilst Cuco Martina and Sadio Mane will be assessed following long-haul flights during the international break.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 21/10, Southampton Win: 6/4, Draw: 2/1.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Rondon 13/2, Lambert 7/1, Berahino 7/1, Anichebe 15/2, Gnabry 8/1, McManaman 9/1, Sessegnon 9/1, McClean 10/1, Gardner 11/1, Morrison 11/1, Brunt 16/1, Dawson 20/1, Fletcher 20/1, McAuley 20/1, Chester 25/1, Yacob 33/1.

Southampton: Pelle 5/1, Long 5/1, Rodriguez 6/1, Tadic 13/2, Mane 13/2, Juanmi 7/1, Davis 12/1, Ward-Prowse 14/1, Wanyama 16/1, van Dijk 16/1, Soares 25/1, Reed 25/1, Clasie 25/1, Romeu 25/1, Caulker 25/1, Fonte 28/1, Yoshida 33/1.

No goalscorer: 7/1.

www.williamhill.com

REFEREE

Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)

Attwell took charge of one Albion game last season - the 1-0 win at Leicester City in November.

The Warwickshire official last took charge of a Southampton game back in November 2010 - the Saints' 3-0 FA Cup win over Cheltenham Town at St Mary's Stadium.

Attwell has issued 14 yellow cards in the five games he has officiated so far this season.

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

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are now on general sale to supporters priced at £27/£25 adults, £21/£20 seniors (over-60s), £16/£15 Under-21s/students and £10 juniors. The lower priced tickets apply to Smethwick End and Birmingham Road End seats. Concessionary matchday tickets are available in West Stand Wings but not West Stand Central.

WEATHER FORECAST

Sunny intervals, 16°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

Saturday 28 February 2015 - Albion 1-0 Southampton - Premier League - The Hawthorns
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 1-0 Southampton
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 28th February  2015, 3:00pm

Albion: Foster, Dawson, McAuley, Lescott, Brunt, Morrison (Sessegnon 72’), Yacob, Fletcher, Gardner, Ideye (Baird 87’), Berahino (Mulumbu 56’). Subs not used: Myhill, Wisdom, Olsson, McManaman. 

Goalscorer: Berahino 2

Booked: Foster 62 (time wasting), Sessegnon 82 (simulation)

Southampton: Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Gardos (Elia 24’), Bertrand, Wanyama (S Davis 45’), Schneiderlin, Tadić (Long 74’), Mané, Pellè. Subs not used: K Davis, Djuri, Ward-Prowse, Targett.

Booked: Wanyama 29 (foul)

Attendance: 25,303

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire) replaced at half-time by Graham Scott (Oxfordshire)

West Brom took a giant leap towards safety after Saido Berahino condemned stuttering Southampton to a 1-0 defeat. The striker scored his 17th goal of the season with a brilliant half-volley after just 70 seconds to settle the game. The Saints dominated possession but rarely threatened the Albion goal as the Baggies kept their seventh clean sheet in 10 games under head coach Tony Pulis. The closest Southampton came to an equaliser was when Chris Brunt deflected Ryan Bertrand's second-half cross just wide. West Brom are now eight points clear of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone in 13th, having lost just once under Pulis. Southampton, though, are clinging onto fifth place having won just once in their last five games.

The Baggies were unchanged while the Saints brought back Bertrand, Morgan Schneiderlin, Dusan Tadic, Florin Gardos and Sadio Mane, after the forward had been dropped after being late in the build-up to their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool. Berahino had shaken off a minor knock to start and he made an instant impact after just 70 seconds. Brunt's lofted free-kick was headed out by Maya Yoshida but only as far as Berahino and the striker unleashed a rasping half-volley which flew into the top corner from 16 yards. The striker is prolific at The Hawthorns, with 15 of his 17 goals this season coming at home. The Saints were ragged and Fraser Forster saved Claudio Yacob's header before Gardos was replaced by Elijero Elia. Boss Ronald Koeman had seen enough and his side almost responded when Mane fired over after collecting Schneiderlin's brilliant cross-field pass. The change altered the game's dynamic and the Saints improved, although they failed to test Ben Foster as Mane shot off target again. Craig Gardner almost found an opening when he failed to control a long ball when clean through but it was a rare chance for the Baggies. Their defensive organisation, which has now seen them keep four straight clean sheets under Pulis, was evident though. Despite having the bulk of possession and pinning Albion back, Southampton struggled to break down the massed Baggies ranks.

Steven Davis replaced Victor Wanyama at the break and referee Phil Dowd also failed to reappear, with fourth official Graham Scott taking charge. And Albion suffered a blow 10 minutes into the second half when Berahino limped off to be replaced by Youssouf Mulumbu. It took away the Baggies' best outlet and Southampton continued to press and almost levelled after 67 minutes. Bertrand linked well with Elia on the left and when Graziano Pelle missed his cross, it deflected inches wide off Brunt. Brown Ideye wanted a penalty after tangling with Fonte during a rare Albion raid with 10 minutes remaining. And the visitors could have levelled with four minutes left when Pelle latched onto a Schneiderlin header only to mis-hit his shot straight at Foster.

 Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

England international Rickie Lambert spent five hugely successful seasons with Southampton after joining the club from Bristol Rovers in August 2009. The Liverpool-born striker scored 117 goals in 235 games for the Saints before leaving for his boyhood heroes Liverpool in the summer of 2014. After one season at Anfield Lambert joined Albion in a reported £3million deal.

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: Chris Baird, 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.