There was nothing to separate West Bromwich Albion and Southampton on the Hawthorns as the primary legs of each Championship play-off semi-final ties ended goalless.
Having seen Norwich Metropolis and Leeds United play out a cagey draw at Carrow Highway earlier on Sunday, West Brom and Southampton created way more probabilities than their fellow promotion contenders, however goalkeepers Alex Palmer and Alex McCarthy had been each in impressed kind.
McCarthy made two large stops to disclaim Grady Diangana, however Palmer stole the headlines with an unbelievable save to maintain out Ross Stewart’s deflected effort as each groups didn’t seize the initiative forward of Friday’s second leg at St Mary’s.
Whereas Russell Martin’s Saints will enter that match as favourites to guide a visit to Wembley Stadium, Carlos Corberan’s Albion can rely themselves unlucky to not be taking a result in the south coast after creating extra high-quality alternatives in a aggressive first leg.
Learn our different soccer information tales right here:Norwich Metropolis 0-0 Leeds United: All to play for in semi-final after cagey drawUnder-fire Man Utd boss Ten Hag says critics lack soccer knowledgeChelsea need Champions League return says skipper James
West Brom made an brisk begin as their excessive press triggered just a few nervy moments for Southampton, but it surely was the guests who had the primary sight of objective as Kyle Walker-Peters’ cross-shot deflected narrowly large.
Albion had been vastly lucky to remain stage after 20 minutes, with Palmer making himself huge to disclaim Flynn Downes and Adam Armstrong turning the rebound into the aspect netting.
Whereas Southampton appeared extra composed in possession, West Brom’s direct method allowed them to threaten and so they created the most effective likelihood of the primary half 33 minutes in, with McCarthy one way or the other preserving out Diangana’s close-range header.
West Brom missed one other superb likelihood because the vigorous Michael Johnston crossed for Darnell Furlong on the hour mark, however the right-back might solely poke large of the bottom-right nook on the stretch.
Battling with the Baggies ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/QR8nNkuZEi
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) Might 12, 2024
Each goalkeepers then made beautiful saves to maintain the sport goalless within the 78th minute, McCarthy pushing Diangana’s highly effective strike away to set Southampton off on the break.
Stewart’s long-range effort took a depraved deflection and appeared to have wrongfooted Palmer, just for the Albion shot-stopper to one way or the other hook it away together with his proper foot whereas grounded.
That was as shut as both aspect got here to the breakthrough, although McCarthy was grateful to his defence for bailing him out when he inexplicably gifted West Brom possession in his personal space late on.
Midway within the tie and it’s as you had been! On to Friday evening at St Mary’s.#EFL | #EFLPlayOffs pic.twitter.com/k6SvnEOPVb
— Sky Wager Championship (@SkyBetChamp) Might 12, 2024