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
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 0-0 Southampton
90 mins: A late change for West Brom as Reach makes way for Townsend who had just appeared to have picked up a slight niggle. No point risking him at this stage of the contest.
Into the first of six added minutes we go - any chance of a goal?
West Brom 0-0 Southampton
85 mins: Saints gift the ball away inside their own box but Swift can’t quite find an angle for the shot. He lays it back to Townsend but his effort is blocked.
A let-off for Saints.
West Brom 0-0 Southampton
80 mins: A slew of changes - four to be exact - from the home side.
Yokuslu, Johnston, Thomas-Asante and Fellows make way, with Swift, M’Villa, Wallace and Ajayi coming on to replace them.
West Brom 0-0 Southampton
78 mins: CHANCES AT BOTH ENDS! Another great stop from McCarthy to deny Diangana but what a marvellous run from Fellows to set that up. He jinxes past two players and cuts it back to Diangana but the Saints keeper makes a smart stop.
Up the other end, Stewart’s deflected strike almost catches out Palmer but it’s a great reflect save to keep it out with his feet.
West Brom 0-0 Southampton
74 mins: It’s Mowatt...but it’s over the bar. Tricky to get it up and down from that distance.
West Brom 0-0 Southampton
73 mins: A silly challenge from Harwood-Bellis earns him a yellow card and affords West Brom a free-kick in a great positon. Mowatt might fancy this...
West Brom 0-0 Southampton
71 mins: Bartley gets the better of Manning from the corner but his eventual effort is well wide of the target.
And here come those Saints changes as Mara, Manning and Adam Armstrong make way for Brooks, Fraser and Stewart.
Attacking subs from the visitors.
West Brom 0-0 Southampton
66 mins: Well, it looks like Bartley will continue on for the time being. Southampton, meanwhile, do look to be readying some substitutions of their own.
West Brom 0-0 Southampton
64 mins: Some concern for West Brom as Bartley grabs the back of his leg before hitting the turf after a sprint.
Looks like the hosts will take no risks as Ajayi readies himself on the sidelines.
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