Southampton will be relatively happy, as they leave The Hawthorns with a goalless draw from the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final.
Now, attention turns to the reverse fixture at St Mary’s on Friday night with Southampton determined to get the job done in front of their home supporters.
Much of the talk ahead of the game revolved around whether Russell Martin would stick with the back three that worked so well against Leeds United last time out or return to his favoured 4-3-3.
The Southampton boss opted for the 3-5-2 system, but the real surprise was to see 21-year-old French striker Sekou Mara start up front with Che Adams not deemed fit to make the match day squad.
It was a hard-fought game with few chances which is perhaps no surprise given it is just the first of the two legs but there will surely be more action in the return leg.
Southampton player ratings in West Brom stalemate
Here is how we rated the performances of the Southampton players in the first-leg of against West Brom.
Alex McCarthy – 8
Continues to deputise for Gavin Bazunu and, although his footwork will never be as good as the Irishman’s, as evidenced by playing the ball to a West Brom attacker in his own box late on.
McCarthy was very assured in a high-pressure game other than that.
Made a brilliant save from a close range Grady Diangana header on 33 minutes and dealt with the potentially dangerous long throw-ins of Darnell Furlong well, claiming on multiple occasions.
Another big save from a venomous strike with 12 minutes to go.
Kyle Walker-Peters – 7
The player that perhaps benefits most from the back three where he can bomb forward as the right wing-back.
Flashed a vicious strike just wide of the far post midway through the first-half and was always an option on the right, driving forward as well as winning numerous free-kicks.
Was up against a tricky customer in Mikey Johnston and managed him well after the Ireland international had a couple of bright moments early on.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis – 8
Harwood-Bellis looks very secure playing as the right centre-back and misplaced just one pass in the first-half according to Sofascore.
Finished the game on 111 touches with a pass completion of 98%.
Made some important interventions defensively too as he looks determined to secure a second Championship promotion in two seasons. Had one sloppy moment as he allowed Okay Yokuslu to head past him before taking out the West Brom man for a yellow card.
Jan Bednarek – 7
Was a calming presence in the middle of the back three.
Has improved drastically on the ball over the course of the season from a player many thought would struggle in a possession-based style.
Dealt well with Brandon Thomas-Asante given the physicality the striker possesses.
Jack Stephens – 7
Sloppy in possession on a couple of occasions with one of his misplaced passes into midfield resulting in Flynn Downes picking up a yellow card to stop the danger.
That aside, the Saints skipper looked composed on the left of the back three and was more reserved in stepping into midfield than usual given the cagey nature of the game.
Ryan Manning – 6
Playing at left wing-back should him but defensively he has to improve at stopping opposition wingers getting a cross into the box.
Was not involved as much in an attacking sense as he would have liked with most of Southampton’s attacking play going down the right.
Flynn Downes – 8
Downes drove forward on multiple occasions to great effect and saw a first-half shot saved by Alex Palmer only for Adam Armstrong to miss the rebound.
Pressed with great intensity throughout and can be more aggressive with the back three behind him.
The first-half yellow card meant he had to tread very carefully as Southampton desperately need the influential midfielder as he was so composed at The Hawthorns.
Will Smallbone – 6
Generally tidy on the ball in what was an intense midfield battle.
Southampton had numerous set-pieces in which Smallbone was the primary taker but his deliveries left a little to be desired.
Joe Aribo – 7
Made some good runs in behind from midfield to disrupt the West Brom defence and was good in possession as he carried the ball well.
Was not aware of what was around him as he allowed Furlong a chance he should have done much better with at the back post following a half-cleared corner in the second-half.
Adam Armstrong – 4
Badly miscued a volley after a Flynn Downes effort deflected off the goalkeeper into his path.
Caught offside on a couple of occasions when he may have been through with a better timed run and his touch was off at times when he got the ball in decent areas.
Martin was right to take him off on 70 minutes despite the fact he is Southampton’s leading goalscorer this season. Has to have more of an impact if Southampton are going to have success in the play-offs.
Sekou Mara – 3
A surprise starter with Che Adams missing out through injury for an opportunity Sekou Mara probably did not expect to make.
Showed his athleticism with a first-half overhead kick that was struck well but wide of the target but generally struggled to make the ball stick as he lacks the physicality of Adams.
With the return of Ross Stewart from injury and Adams due back for the second-leg it could be Mara’s last involvement in the play-offs.
Substitutes:
Ross Stewart – 7
Ryan Fraser – 5
David Brooks – 6
