Southampton vs West Brom prediction: ENGLAND: Championship – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-05-16 19:00.
[p]It’s winner takes all in this play-off semi-final second leg at St Mary’s after Southampton and West Brom played out a goalless draw in the first leg in the Midlands last weekend. That stalemate extended Southampton’s H2H record to just one defeat in nine across all competitions (W7, D1), and given that they’ve lost just two of their last 27 home games against Albion (W17, D8), it’s seemingly advantage to Friday night’s hosts.[/p]
[p]The positive omens continue in that only Leeds (14) and already-promoted Ipswich (12) have won more Championship games in 2024 than the Saints (11). Russell Martin’s side did fail to win four of their final eight home games in the regular league season (D1, L3) though and have now won just one of their last five games at any venue (D1, L3), worryingly failing to score in three of those.[/p]
[p]Despite the positive of a clean sheet in the first leg, visitors West Brom will be rueing their inability to take a lead to the South Coast given their poor record on the road. Only the three relegated sides won fewer Championship away games in 2024 than the Baggies’ two, with Carlos Corberán’s side failing to win any of their last four away from home (D2, L2) in the regular campaign.[/p]
[p]Including the first leg, Albion have now won just two of their last nine outings (D4, L3), though only once in that run did they lose when finding the back of the net. That goes to show how important getting on the scoresheet is for the Baggies, but it’s something they’ve historically struggled with in these parts, failing to score in five of their last seven away H2Hs (W1, D1, L5).[/p]
[p]Key battle: Ché Adams struck five goals in Saints’ last four home games in the regular season, all coming in the first half, so his return to fitness for this clash could prove timely. Up against him, Baggies goalkeeper Alex Palmer won the Championship’s Golden Glove having kept 18 clean sheets, with only Leicester & Leeds conceding fewer goals per game on average than Albion across the division.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Prior to the first leg, there had been 2+ total goals scored in each of the last six H2Hs, including both meetings in the regular season.[/p]