Southampton’s entire season has come down to a two-legged Championship play-off against West Brom.
If they are triumphant over the two fixtures, then they will set up a Wembley final two weeks against either Leeds United or Norwich City.
Southampton know they will have to be at their best to get to that stage, although the fact they have already done a league double over West Brom should give them confidence.
Manager Russell Martin sprung a surprise as he changed from the 4-3-3 formation he has favoured all season to set up his side in a 3-5-2 system against Leeds last weekend.
It worked emphatically, with the Saints winning 2-1 at Elland Road and earning a potential psychological edge on the process if the two sides are to meet again at Wembley.
Despite the impressive performance, though, Martin should resist the urge to play a 3-5-2 again against West Brom.
Russell Martin should revert to favoured formation v West Brom
The success Southampton had in the regular season finale has given Martin plenty of food for thought.
However, whilst his side looked very good in their new shape, he should not forget how slick his side have looked at times this season in the 4-3-3 he has almost exclusively used.
Perhaps most importantly, though, is he has already beaten West Brom twice this season playing with a back four and this approach could again be the best way to get the better of Carlos Corberan’s side.
In the first encounter, Southampton actually set up in more of an orthodox 4-4-2 shape out of possession, with Kamaldeen Sulemana and Adam Armstrong operating as split strikers.
In the second meeting in February, it was a return to the 4-3-3 that Southampton fans have become accustomed to seeing their side play.
In the 2-0 win at The Hawthorns in February, Ryan Fraser was immense as he scored early from a side foot volley and worked tirelessly on the left. Southampton repeatedly got joy from wide areas that night, with Adam Armstrong operating on the other flank.
It was another winger, David Brooks, who came off the bench to seal the win with Southampton’s second that night and Martin should look to target the wide areas once more in the play-offs.
What Martin formation change means for defence
What a return to Martin’s favoured shape does mean is that a defender is likely to drop out.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jan Bednarek have developed a solid partnership at the centre of the Southampton defence and Kyle Walker-Peters is all but guaranteed to start.
This means it is likely between Ryan Manning and Jack Stephens for the last spot in the back four.
Stephens was named captain by Martin in pre-season but spent the majority of the first half of the season injured. Harwood-Bellis and Bednarek forged a partnership that helped the Saints to a record-breaking 25-game unbeaten run in all competitions during this time which made it difficult to find a spot for Stephens upon his return.
However, in the wake of the 5-0 defeat to Leicester City a matter of weeks ago, Martin insisted the manner of the defeat would not have happened had Stephens been playing and implied his captain would be in the team from that point onwards.
Stephens played as an auxiliary left-back in the away game against West Brom and enjoyed real success as he stepped into central midfield areas when Southampton had the ball.
Given his leadership and defensive superiority over Manning, it would seem likely that Stephens will reprise this role in a first-leg where Southampton will want to be defensively sound to ensure they do not give themselves too much to do in the return leg at St Mary’s.
