Russell Martin heads into Friday’s play-off decider against West Bromwich Albion knowing that defeat could hasten the end of his time as Southampton manager.
Saints will believe they can finish the job in front of their own fans and seal their place in the Final at Wembley – where the winner will claim not just promotion but an estimated £200million windfall for a season in the Premier League.
Yet if West Brom prevail at St Mary’s on Friday, Martin will have failed in his only task – to return Southampton instantly to the top flight. Clubs who benefit from parachute payments are under greater pressure to deliver and if their managers do not handle it, their position becomes immediately more shaky.
Thanks largely to goalkeepers Alex McCarthy and Alex Palmer, the score remained blank here as it had in the earlier game between Norwich and Leeds – the first time that has happened in the Champiship play-offs for 13 years.
In front of American owner Shilen Patel, West Brom competed well against a team who finished 12 points above them in the regular season and will be far from disheartened with the outcome.
MATCH FACTS
West Brom (4-2-3-1): Palmer 8; Furlong 7.5, Bartley 7, Kipre 6.5, Townsend 6.5 (Reach 90); Yokuslu 6.5 (Ajayi 80), Mowatt 6.5; Fellows 7.5 (Wallace 82), Diangana 6.5, Johnston 6 (M’Vila 81); Thomas-Asante 6 (Swift 81)
Subs not used: Griffiths, Chalobah, Phillips, Weimann
Booked: Johnston
Manager: Carlos Corberan 6.5
Southampton (3-5-2): McCarthy 7.5; Harwood-Bellis 6.5, Bednarek 7.5, Stephens 6.5; Walker-Peters 6, Smallbone 6, Downes 7.5, Aribo 7.5, Manning 5.5 (Fraser 72, 6); Armstrong 6 (Stewart 72, 6), Mara 5 (Brooks 71, 6)
Subs not used: Lumley, Bree, Rothwell, Sulemana, Edozie, Charles
Booked: Downes, Harwood-Bellis
Manager: Russell Martin 6.5
Referee: Samuel Barrott 6
Attendance: 25,367
As ever here, the pre-match DJ had turned the sound up to 11 and in the early stages, it looked like West Brom would follow suit.
Carlos Corberan’s men flew out of the blocks and forced three early corners, though they could not create a clear chance despite asserting themselves so impressively.
Southampton gradually found their footing and might have taken the lead in the 15th minute. Joe Aribo found Kyle Walker-Peters on the right, and his angled effort clipped Conor Townsend and almost crept in at the far post.
Moments later, Aribo was involved again, playing a return pass that put Flynn Downes through on Alex Palmer. The Albion goalkeeper saved with his feet and though the ball looped to Adam Armstrong, Saints’ No9 failed to put his volley on target.
Shortly after a drinks break to take account of the 23-degree temperature, Sekou Mara’s overhead-kick flew just high and wide before the home side were desperately close to taking the lead.
Tom Fellow had threatened in spells on the right and the winger’s enticing cross was met by Grady Diangana’s downward header.
Alex McCarthy just about managed to keep it out and was relieved to see Jack Stephens put it behind for a corner.
By now Walker-Peters had become a target for the home fans for making the most of hefty challenges from Townsend and Mikey Johnston, though Saints could not profit from either free-kick.
Downes was smooth in midfield and after he eased away from Okay Yokuslu, Darnell Furlong produced an excellent block to stop Aribo’s crisp shot testing Palmer.
Moments after being booked, Johnston created one of the best chances of the match when he sped away down the left and his cross was steered a fraction wide by Furlong.
With 12 minutes left, Saints needed McCarthy to bail them out after Fellows skipped past two and teed up Diangana, who saw his effort from an ideal position stopped.
And moments later the visitors came even closer as substitute Ross Stewart’s strike clipped Kyle Bartley but was somehow diverted away from goal by Palmer.
Though the goalkeeper was off balance, he still managed to clear the danger with his right foot.
That brought a delay as Corberan made four substitutions in one go though Saints could not take advantage of the confusion and their corner was claimed easily by Palmer.
Albion screamed for a penalty when Diangana nutmegged Ryan Fraser and seemed to be held back but referee Samuel Barrott gave the Saints substitute the benefit of the doubt and the visitors survived.
