The battle for promotion to the Premier League continues this week with the Championship play-off semi-final second legs playing out in midweek.
There are two second-leg play-off semi-finals taking place over two days. The first sees Leeds United host Norwich City at 8 pm BST on May 16 before Southampton take on West Brom at St Marys’ at 8 pm BST on Friday, May 17.
Southampton head into Friday’s clash as 4/5 favourites to pick up a win, while West Brom can be backed at 15/4 to secure a win in 90 minutes at St Marys’.
Southampton vs West Brom
After a 0-0 draw at the Hawthorns last week, it is all to play for when Southampton host West Brom on Friday evening.
Heading into their play-off clash, Southampton did not end the normal campaign in great form. The Saints lost three on the spin before beating Leeds United 2-1 on the final day. However, Southampton are still favourites to make it into the final ahead of West Brom after beating the Midlands outfit in both of their league fixtures this season.
As for West Brom, they did not have a great end to the normal 2023/24 season, with three losses in their last four nearly costing them a play-off spot. But the Baggies still managed to earn 5th place following a 3-0 win over Preston on the final day. West Brom will also take solace in the fact the 5th-place club in the Championship have won the play-offs in three of the last 10 years.
Southampton vs West Brom betting stats
Here are some key Southampton and West Brom stats to keep in mind as you prepare to make your selections ahead of the game:
- West Bromwich Albion have only won two of their last 27 away games against Southampton across all competitions (D8 L17), losing each of their last three such visits in a row since a 2-1 Premier League win in December 2016.
- This is just Southampton’s second appearance in the Football League play-offs – they were eliminated in the 2006/07 Championship semi-final by Derby County, who would go on to beat West Brom in the final.
- This is West Brom’s fourth appearance in the second tier play-offs – they lost at the semi-final stage in both 2000/01 (vs Bolton) and 2018/19 (vs Aston Villa), and in the 2007 final against Derby.
- Both teams have scored in 65 per cent of Southampton’s Championship matches this season.
- Southampton have scored at least two goals in five of their past seven games against West Brom.
- Southampton have won seven of their last nine meetings with West Brom.
- Only Huddersfield (1), Birmingham (1) and Rotherham (0) won fewer Championship away games in 2024 prior to the play-offs than West Brom (2), with the Baggies failing to win any of their last four such games of the campaign (D2 L2).
Southampton vs West Brom Top Tip
- Southampton’s Adam Armstrong was involved in more Championship goals in home games than any other player in 2023/24 (20 – 12 goals, 8 assists), including the winner in this fixture when these sides met at St. Mary’s in November.
Today’s Football Tips
There is one Championship clash taking place today, as Leeds United face off with Norwich City.
Norwich City travel away from home to take on Leeds United on Thursday evening, and we’ve got it covered with our bet builder of the day article, while for those of you looking to place an acca, we have our acca of the day lined up and ready to go.
This week’s best free bets and enhanced offers
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