West Brom vs Southampton: Match Preview
Southampton come up against West Brom this weekend in the last 16 of the FA Cup as they look to get back to winning ways after disappointment last time out.
Saints come into the match on the back of a disappointing defeat and performance at the hands of Liverpool at St Mary’s last weekend and will be determined to put things right.
As for the Baggies, they also come into the game on the back of a defeat as they lost 3-0 at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. This result has left them seven points adrift from 17th.
A change of competition could be useful for both sides as they are really lacking confidence at present. The game provides an opportunity to be just 90 minutes from Wembley for the winner of this tie.
Both sides are in awful runs of forms at present which, for the hosts, has seen them lose their last three Premier League matches. Saints have won just one of their last five games, too.
The two teams have lacked any kind of consistency and this cup tie could offer both a perfect opportunity to play without any pressure knowing there are no points on offer.
Saints have been better away from home than they have at St Mary’s and will be keen to continue this spell at the Hawthorns.
The most recent meeting between the two, as mentioned, was just a couple of weeks ago when the Saints came out on top in a 3-2 win thanks to goals from Mario Lemina, Jack Stephens and James Ward-Prowse.
The Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has spoken to the media prior to his side’s trip to the Hawthorns, saying that he intends to treat the competition with the utmost respect. As quoted by the club’s official website, he said:
We have an amazing opportunity in the FA Cup to move forward.
We want to use this competition for many reasons, to try to put some players who didn’t play too much, to try to improve as a team, and also because we want to go forward.
He continued and went on to talk about the prospect of giving players an opportunity who haven’t perhaps featured too often of late.
I will prepare the game to try to win. If I give the opportunity to somebody it is because I feel that he is really well prepared and deserves to be there on the pitch.
I will not give anything for free. I want to put out the players who I feel will represent our club in the best way.
In terms of team news, Charlie Austin remains out with a long-term injury but is expecting to return to the team within five weeks. Fellow striker Shane Long is also a doubt for the tie at his former club with a knock which has been picked up this week. He will be monitored before the squad travel to the game tomorrow.
As for the Baggies, they continue to be without Nacer Chadli, James Morrison, Jake Livermore and Hal Robson-Kanu for the game.
Daniel Sturridge will also miss the tie after coming off after just three minutes in the previous game at former club Chelsea but he is expected to return in a couple of weeks.
I expect this to be another close game between two evenly matched sides who are both likely to make some changes to the team with the Premier League status still being the priority at both clubs.
I think that Saints will just edge this one 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.