SOUTHAMPTON V WEST BROM BET BUILDER TIPS
Southampton to Win
Over 1.5 Goals
Jack Stephens to Commit 1 or More Fouls
Cédric Kipré to Commit 1 or More Fouls
Mikey Johnston to have 1 or More Shots on Target
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Friday 8pm: Southampton v West Brom
Championship Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg match at St Mary’s
TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
SOUTHAMPTON to win
Southampton boss Russell Martin is confident Che Adams will be fit to return having sat out the first leg injured. This would be a huge boost given he has contributed 18 goals in all competitions this season and has built a great relationship with Adam Armstrong in attack.
He was certainly missed in the last game when Sékou Mara filled in for the drab 0-0. The home team will dominate the ball as they always do and a fast start is anticipated to really make home advantage count.
You’d have to fear for West Brom if they did fall behind. They’re likely to play on the break and it’ll be tough to keep their opponents at bay, especially as they netted 17 more league goals than them this season. I fancy Southampton to Win on home soil.
OVER 1.5 GOALS
The common theme across both Championship play-off first legs was the lack of goals; zero in fact! The difference between this tie and the Leeds and Norwich clash is that Southampton are a side not necessarily built on clean sheets.
They’re more focused on what damage they can potentially cause rather than worrying about the opposition too much. If they play to their best they expect to win. It does raise the chances of goals here.
The Saints topped the Championship regular season for average number of goals within their games. For this bet to win any score besides 0-0 or 1-0 either way makes it a winner, and the approach of Southampton, who saw only four league rivals achieve fewer home clean sheets, increases chances of goals at either end.
West Brom are a little more rigid but they won’t park the bus for the whole game. Plus, 18 of their final 20 regular season Championship matches contained at least two goals.
JACK STEPHENS TO COMMIT 1 OR MORE FOULS
Southampton should again retain the 3-5-2 formation they have utilised for the last two games. Jack Stephens has a particular role to play within that and will often step into more of a midfielder role when in possession.
For all that he has done a decent job of doing so, it is ultimately not his best position and cannot be expected to produce a faultless display, as least in terms of committing no fouls. He made one in the first leg, meaning he has produced one or more fouls in nine of the previous ten games in which he has started.
If West Brom are to sit behind the ball then it’ll limit the kind of impact Stephens can have offensively, and given it isn’t his natural role it may lead to some frustration.
CÉDRIC KIPRÉ TO COMMIT 1 OR MORE FOULS
West Brom’s No. 4 Cedric Kipre has been their defensive rock across the season, which is a big reason why he won both the Players’ and Supporters’ Player of the Season recently. However, he is ranked third in the team in terms of amount of fouls committed, and although he has been quite kind across the last few months, this big match could bring something out of him.
It is three games running without making a foul, meaning he really is due one. The stakes are high here and playing Southampton away will see him come under some considerable pressure at times. He did produce a foul when West Brom travelled to St Mary’s in the regular season, whilst he has also made fouls in encounters with other strong opponents in Leicester, Leeds, Norwich and Hull.
MIKEY JOHNSTON TO HAVE 1 OR MORE SHOTS ON TARGET
Arguably, Mikey Johnston has been West Brom’s signing of the season given the quick impact he’s made at The Hawthorns. The on-loan Celtic winger signed on deadline day on February 1st and his seven goals played a big part in The Baggies making the end of season lottery.
He soon became the thing of nightmares for opposing Championship right backs! He is currently on a 14-match starting run, again highlighting his importance to Head Coach Carlos Corberán.
Within this sequence, the 25-year-old Glaswegian has fired in a total of ten shots on target. The fact 52.5% of his overall shots have indeed hit the target is testament to his end product.
He is ranked joint-third for shots on target in the WBA squad despite only signing in February and playing in some 20 games fewer than those ahead of him.
SOUTHAMPTON V WEST BROM BETTING TIPS
Southampton to Win
Over 1.5 Goals
Jack Stephens to Commit 1 or More Fouls
Cédric Kipré to Commit 1 or More Fouls
Mikey Johnston to have 1 or More Shots on Target
- A Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately 12/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP.
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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