West Bromwich Albion will be hoping to win their first home game of the season as they welcome Southampton to the Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon – a team yet to secure three points on the road.
Off-the-pitch sagas dogged both clubs before the transfer window shut. For West Brom, Saido Berahino cast a long shadow over their dealing with his attempt to force a move away and for Southampton, Victor Wanyama requested to leave St. Mary’s.
Ironically enough, both had their hearts set on Tottenham Hotspur, but both were denied their moves. Now with the window shut, attention can once again turn to the game itself, with both sides on the up. Before the break, both sides recorded their first wins of the season. The Baggies saw off nine-man Stoke City and Saints dispatched Norwich City with ease.
However, there are still question marks surrounding both ranks, meaning we should be in for an intriguing encounter this weekend.
New signings at the Hawthorns are starting to make their mark. Solomon Rondon scored the winner at the Britannia two weeks ago, assisted by former Saint Rickie Lambert.
Saints are having to rely on second-season players Graziano Pelle and Sadio Mane for inspiration in a campaign that has struggled to catch fire. Last year, these teams were playing in two different divisions within the Premier League, but as we head into the weekend they are evenly matched.
Key Battle – Oriol Romeu vs Darren Fletcher
The key battle will be in the midfield. Both teams are expected to line up in similar systems so whoever can get the better foothold in the midfield has the better chance to win the game. Oriol Romeu has fitted in the Saints team seamlessly and alongside James Ward-Prowse. Both looked in control against Norwich.
Their plan is simple; win the ball and give it to the more creative players in Mane and Dusan Tadic. If West Brom are to nullify this then James Morrison and Darren Fletcher will have to be combative to get their team on the front foot.
With both sides looking to use tricky wingers, defensively, all four midfielders will have to be on high alert to give their full-backs added protection once the wide midfielders get into full flight.
The pairing that gets their passing game and defensive work going better will have a huge say on the outcome of the game.
Team News
Tony Pulis has no fresh injury worries ahead of the game. Berahino is set to be missing as he continues talks over his future with the powers that be at the Hawthorns. Apart from that, the only doubt is James Chester who has a slight hamstring problem. Expect Pulis to name a similar team to the one that saw off Stoke. New signing Jonny Evans is in line to make his debut after signing from Manchester United at the back-end of the window.
West Brom Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Myhill (GK); Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Olsson; Flectcher, Gardener; McClean, Morrison, McManaman; Rondon.
For Southampton, Ronald Koeman is off the crutches. He tore ligaments at the start of the season, and will be on the touchline with more vigour this Saturday. If his leg has healed, he still has selection headaches.
Wanyama has a possibility to start after not being physically or mentally fit for the game against Norwich and summer signing Jordy Clasie is still missing through injury. Other long-term absentees are Fraser Forster and Ryan Bertrand.
Deadline day signing Virgil Van Dijk should make his first start for the club alongside club captain Jose Fonte.
Southampton Expected XI (4-3-3): Stekelenburg (GK); Soares, Van Dijk, Fonte, Targett; Romeu, Davis, Ward-Prowse; Tadic, Pelle, Mane.
Head-to-Head
West Brom and Southampton have met 64 times with both sides victorious on 22 occasions each. The draw is only two games behind as both sides have shared the points in 20 matches.
Previous Meeting
Berahino scored after just two minutes to seal a West Brom win back in February last year. Saints could not break down West Brom in either game against the Baggies last year. This started the end of Saints’ Champions League challenge.
Prediction
On paper, Saints should have enough to beat the Baggies. They have a potent attacking threat that is starting to fire, and a defence that looked stronger against Norwich.
But West Brom are always difficult to beat at home as Chelsea found out last month and with the new signings starting to gel, the draw is the likeliest outcome is this game.
West Bromwich Albion 1 Southampton 1
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