Southampton will face Leeds United in the Championship play-off final after a stylish second-half performance saw them beat West Bromwich Albion 3-1. Following a goalless first leg, Saints midfielder Will Smallbone opened the scoring in the second half of the second leg, striking from an angle into the top right corner of Baggies keeper Alex Palmer’s goal from just inside the box. Adam Armstrong doubled Saints’ lead, triggering a party atmosphere inside the ground with just over 10 minutes remaining. The hosts’ Wembley place was guaranteed when he doubled his tally from the penalty spot after Ryan Manning was fouled, with Cedric Kipre’s injury-time header for the visitors serving as a mere consolation.
Southampton supporters welcomed their team in their thousands, gathering outside the ground with red and white flares, and lining the streets more than two hours before kick-off. Pyrotechnics and flamethrowers added to a thrilling pre-match atmosphere, but it took until Smallbone’s goal for the game to heat up. In the first half, Saints came closest to opening the scoring when Armstrong got in behind the West Brom defense before cutting the ball back to David Brooks, who fired wide from close range.
Russell Martin’s home side started the second half impressively, and the atmosphere erupted when they took the lead through the boot of Smallbone, who netted his seventh goal of the season. Saints supporters felt they should have had a penalty after Brooks was scissor-tackled by Kipre in the box but, to their dismay, nothing was given. Armstrong settled the nerves later on, drilling a low shot into the back of the net before celebrating in the far corner of the Northam stand.
The hosts were eventually given a penalty in the closing stages when Manning steamed into the West Brom box before being taken down, with Armstrong making no mistake from the spot. Kipre’s header through the outstretched gloves of Alex McCarthy was too little too late for West Brom, as Southampton secured their place at Wembley.
