Southampton manager Russell Martin has managed the side brilliantly in the play-offs so far.
Southampton got through a potentially difficult away leg in the semi-final against West Brom unscathed, drawing 0-0 at The Hawthorns despite an onslaught in the opening ten minutes of the game.
Russell Martin‘s side grew into that encounter and looked comfortable despite a lively home crowd roaring West Brom on.
In the second leg, Southampton were totally dominant as they utilised their own home support to win 3-1 and set up a Wembley final with Leeds United on Sunday.
Martin has really earned his stripes as a manager this last few weeks and one thing in particular he has done may just give Southampton the edge in the one-off game for Premier League promotion.
Russell Martin has demonstrated tactical flexibility in recent Southampton games
One criticism of Martin across his short managerial career has been a perceived lack of plan ‘B’.
The 38-year-old is a very principled coach and will not deviate from his beliefs that possession-focused football given his teams the best chance of success.
However, whilst his ideology will not change, Martin has shown he has the tactical nous to tweak his system dependent on the opponents and state of the game in recent weeks.
The former-Swansea City boss had used a 4-3-3 system for the majority of the campaign, but made the surprisingly change to a back three on the final day win over Leeds following three consecutive defeats prior to that.
It worked well and gave the Saints a more solid look as they won 2-1 in a game few expected them to win.
Martin stuck with the 3-5-2 formation for the first leg away at West Brom as he sought to maintain a solid foundation and continue to build on the good work a week earlier, but in the second leg he demonstrated his best work yet.
Martin kept Carlos Corberan guessing at St Mary’s, as his side constantly switched between a 4-3-3 and 3-5-2.
Southampton undoubtedly started the game in a 4-3-3 shape but after just eight minutes switched to a system that more closely resembled the 3-5-2 they had played in the first leg.
When they did this, Ryan Fraser became a left wing-back and David Brooks drifted centrally to partner Adam Armstrong up front.
As the game developed, Southampton seamlessly switched between the two formations and the fluidity made it almost impossible for West Brom to defend.
Martin now has Daniel Farke guessing
As well as giving Southampton great success on the night, the tactical flexibility has also caused Leeds real problems ahead of the play-off final.
If the final had been played just a handful of weeks ago, Leeds boss Daniel Fake could prepare with complete confidence to face a Southampton side playing a 4-3-3 formation.
Now, given the recent tweaks, Leeds will have no idea which system Martin will opt for.
To compound this issue further, they also now know that Southampton can comfortably switch formation during the game and play in different shapes both in and out of possession.
Martin has demonstrated a different string to his bow in the last few weeks and it may just give his side the edge in their bid to return to the Premier League.