Southampton secured their place in the play-off final with a fine performance as they beat West Brom 3-1 at St Mary’s.
The atmosphere was electric, with Southampton fans playing a huge part in helping their team overcome a West Brom side whose game plan seemed to rely solely on frustrating the home side.
With the Saints unable to unlock an organised Baggies side in the first-half, Will Smallbone broke the deadlock just four minutes into the second 45 minutes with a wonderful strike that kissed the post on its way in.
Adam Armstrong double the lead on 78 minutes before scoring a second from the spot after Ryan Manning was brought down on 86 minutes.
West Brom did manage to score, however the 97th-minute Cedric Kipre header was too late to cause any late scares.
Smallbone and Armstrong will get the plaudits, however Don Goodman was full of praise for another Southampton player whilst commentating on the game for Sky Sports.
Don Goodman hails David Brooks performance v West Brom
David Brooks was one of two changes to the side that started the first leg, with the Welshman joined by Ryan Fraser in the starting XI.
Che Adams was again not deemed fit enough to make the squad, so Armstrong played centrally with Brooks and Fraser on wither flank.
Brooks was heavily involved throughout, hitting the post in the first-half as well as having a penalty shout waved away having gone to ground a little dramatically.
His bright performance continued with the only shot on target of the first-half as he tested Alex Palmer from 20 yards just a minute before cheekily nutmegging a West Brom defender to win a free-kick.
He was also the man that played the pass to Smallbone before the Southampton academy product fired Saints into the lead, before having a stonewall penalty not given minutes later.
The 26-year-old came off on 74 minutes and the Sky Sports commentators were impressed by the loanee’s performance.
The mai commentator stated Brooks was “one of the stars of the night” as he was replaced by Samuel Edozie.
Goodman agreed, adding: “He’s been outstanding David Brooks, he really has.”
Brooks will hope to start again at Wembley
Brooks may not have started the second leg had Adams recovered from the muscle injury he sustained against Leeds United on the final day of the regular season.
Martin had implied in the build-up to the game this week that Adams would be fit to return, so it was a surprise when the Scotland striker was not in the squad.
Brooks will hope he has done enough in his 74 minutes at St Mary’s to secure himself a starting spot in the Wembley final in just over a week regardless of whether Adams is fit to return.
If Southampton are successful in the one-off game to return to the Premier League then it will be interesting to see whether the club decide to pursue a permanent move for a player who has certainly made an impact in his loan spell.