Southampton vs West Bromwich Albion

8th November

Two sides sat inside the top six of the Sky Bet Championship go head-to-head at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday afternoon as Russell Martin's Southampton welcome Carlos Corberán's Albion (ko 3pm).

The Baggies head down to the south coast in impressive form having won three matches on the bounce against QPR, Coventry City and Hull City, while also losing just one of their last 10.

Hosts Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last term and will be keen to make an immediate return to the top flight. They've earned 27 points from their first 15 matches and are unbeaten in seven, winning five and drawing two.

This weekend's clash will be the first between the two clubs since April 2021 - an encounter which ended 3-0 to West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

The Baggies face Saints at St Mary's on Saturday afternoon

Follow the fixture live

Supporters can listen to live audio commentary of Albion's showdown with Southampton.

Gez Mulholland and former Baggie Andy Johnson will provide live commentary from St Mary's, with coverage starting at 2.50pm.

Audio passes are available to purchase here.

Details for video streaming on WBA TV will be available here from Thursday afternoon onwards.

Supporters are kindly asked to direct any questions or complaints about WBA TV or WBA Radio to wbatvsupport@streamamg.com.

The club are unable to answer queries about WBA TV or WBA Radio sent to fans@wbafc.co.uk or myalbion@wbafc.co.uk.

Regular updates will also be posted across the club's social media channels throughout the day.

The opponents

Southampton's target this season will be to win promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking having finished bottom of the top tier last term.

The Saints, who are competing in the Championship after spending the previous 11 campaigns in England's elite division, have certainly been involved in several entertaining matches, with a total of 50 goals being scored in their first 15 fixtures.

They head into Saturday's clash with the Baggies in really good form, winning five and drawing two of the last seven. Their last defeat was way back on September 23, a 2-1 reverse against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Southampton have bagged recent victories over Birmingham City at home and Millwall on their travels, results which mean they have the chance to secure a third straight victory for the first time in 2023/24.

Former Scotland international defender and Swansea City manager Russell Martin in the man steering the ship down on the south coast. Martin has implemented a clear playing structure and encourages his team to play possession-based football.

The 37-year-old is one of the youngest managers in the EFL and has a record of eight victories, three draws and five defeats from his opening 16 games as boss at St Mary's Stadium.

The Saints want an immediate return to the Premier League

One to remember

Hal Robson-Kanu's stunning strike secured three points at St Mary's on New Year's Eve in 2016.

The former Wales international rifled the ball into the top corner with his left foot from the edge of the penalty area to give the Baggies a 2-1 win against the Saints in the Premier League.

Ex-Albion man Shane Long gave the hosts the lead, only for Matty Phillips to equalise before the break.

Robson-Kanu's winner arrived just five minutes into the second-half, with Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk shown a red card towards the end of the encounter.

Supporters can watch Robson-Kanu's screamer below.

The last five

Albion 3-0 Southampton

April 12 2021, Premier League

Southampton 2-0 Albion

October 4 2020, Premier League

Albion 1-2 Southampton

February 17 2018, Emirates FA Cup

Albion 2-3 Southampton

February 3 2018, Premier League

Southampton 1-0 Albion

October 21 2017, Premier League

Matty Phillips scored in Albion's last victory against the Saints in 2021

Did you know?

Saturday's clash with Saints will be the first fixture in the Championship between these two teams in more than 15 years.

The last time Albion played Southampton in the second tier was in April 2008 at The Hawthorns on a night where Chris Brunt's strike in front of the Brummie Road End effectively sealed promotion to the Premier League.

Adam Lallana had earlier given the away side the lead, but Brunty's huge goal earned the Baggies the required point in B71.

There have been 15 fixtures since that night, with 14 of those coming in the Premier League and the other in the FA Cup. Albion have won five, drawn two and lost eight of the last 15 games against Southampton.

Albion's last Championship encounter with Southampton was a special one

Ticket details

Tickets for Albion’s fixture at Southampton are on general sale until 1pm on Friday, November 10.

The Baggies have been given an allocation of 2,825.

Seats are priced £30 Adults, £25 Seniors (65+), £25 18-25s, £20 Under-18s and £15 Under-14s (who must be accompanied by an adult).

Supporters can purchase their tickets online, in person from the East Stand Ticket Office or by calling 0121 227 2227.

Baggies Travel

Coach travel is available for £25, departing Kidderminster at 9.15am, Stourbridge & Lye at 9:30am and The Hawthorns at 10.15am.

A ticket graphic displaying information for Albion's game at Southampton

Travel colours

The Baggies will wear their home colours on the road this weekend.

Order the 2023/24 home shirt here.

Winger Jeremy Sarmiento in action in the home shirt

11th November

Albion were edged out by Southampton in a tightly-contested game at St Mary's on Saturday afternoon.

Following Will Smallbone's opener for the hosts after just five minutes, a strong start to the second half saw the Baggies level through Kyle Bartley.

Darnell Furlong rattled the crossbar as the visitors attempted to turn the tide in their favour, but Adam Armstrong added to his tally for the season to keep the points on the south coast.

Brandon Thomas-Asante chases the ball down during Southampton v Albion

Proceedings began in the worst possible way for Corberán’s men, who fell behind early on.

A pass in-behind split the visiting defence open and although a super save from by Alex Palmer kept out Armstrong from point-blank range, Smallbone followed up to force the ball over the line despite Conor Townsend’s best efforts.

Albion were unlucky not to level the match instantly after going behind. Great build-up play saw the away team break out of Saints’ press and into their final third, with only the stretch of a home defender stopping Furlong’s pass finding its man.

Overall, the Baggies had most of the defending to do during the first 45. Smallbone nearly doubled his and Southampton’s tally but fired over, and Armstrong was inches away from beating the away team’s press and gaining a clean run at goal.

The visitors could’ve restored clarity before the break following more quick, one-touch counter-attacking football through the middle of the pitch, but tactical fouls - which resulted in bookings - by Flynn Downes and Mason Holgate stopped Jed Wallace and Grady Diangana advancing upfield and halted any of the Baggies’ attacking momentum.

Trailing heading into the second half, Corberán’s team made a very strong start after the interval.

After seeing plenty of possession, the away fans behind the goal were nearly off their seats when Matt Phillips’ curling effort whistled past the post. Soon, though, they were celebrating.

An Albion corner kick was cleared out to skipper Wallace, whose delightful whipped cross back into the box was headed onto the crossbar by Thomas-Asante. Luckily for Albion’s No.21, centre-half Bartley was on-hand to scramble in on the goal line to make it 1-1.

Full-back Furlong very nearly turned things around when his header at the back post cannoned back off the bar but, unfortunately, the Baggies were caught out at the other end.

Forward Armstrong was left free in the box to restore Southampton’s lead after the Albion had failed to deal with a cross into the box.

The away team's search for another leveller reached its peak when a Baggies corner kick had to be scrambled off the line, Thomas-Asante saw a header poked over and an injury-time set play caused problems in the Saints box.

They managed to hold off Albion's pressure, though, meaning the away team returned to the Black Country empty-handed.

Albion: Palmer; Furlong, Bartley (Ajayi 82), Kipre, Townsend; Yokuslu (Molumby 82), Chalobah (Mowatt 56); Diangana, Wallace (Sarmiento 82), Phillips (Fellows 82); Thomas-Asante.

Substitutes: Griffiths, Taylor, Pieters, Pipa.

Saturday 11th November 2023 - 15:00