• West Brom have lost seven of their past eight meetings with Southampton in all competitions (W1), losing both meetings with the Saints in the regular Championship season this term.
• Southampton have lost just one of their past six away games against West Brom in all competitions (W4 D1), going down 3-0 in the Premier League in April 2021.
• This is West Brom’s fourth appearance in the second tier play-offs – they lost at the semi-final stage in both 2000-01 (vs Bolton) and 2018-19 (vs Aston Villa), and in the 2007 final against Derby. Every team to beat them in the second tier play-offs has ended up gaining promotion to the Premier League that year.
• This is just Southampton’s second appearance in the Football League play-offs – they were eliminated in the 2006-07 Championship semi-final by Derby County, who would go on to beat West Brom in the final.
• West Bromwich Albion won 15 home games during the regular Championship season, their most victories at the Hawthorns in a single league campaign since 2009-10 (16).
• The Championship play-off winning team has alternated between the team finishing fourth and the team finishing third in each of the last four campaigns, with third placed Luton Town triumphant last season. The Saints came fourth in 2023-24.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at The Hawthorns

Image source, Ged Scott - BBC Sport

Giving out free clappers at football matches was a bit of a thing at one time - until a Birmingham City-Aston Villa derby game a few years back when some Blues fans quickly realised their aero-dynamic properties and used them to throw at any passing Villa player who went near the touchline.

But West Bromwich Albion have left no stone unturned in their bid to give the atmosphere a bit of a boost - so the clappers are back.

Will it help the Baggies go like the clappers though?

Tom Gayle
BBC Radio 5 Live at The Hawthorns

West Brom fans, covered in club merchandise, with their flags and blue flares filled both sides of the Halford's Lane outside the ground to welcome the team bus.

Combined with a match day programme cover which features the entire playing squad and head coach Carlos Corberan, sends out a clear message of unity, and being in this together.

Jo Tessem
Ex-Southampton midfielder on BBC Radio Solent

It's a big blow for Southampton that Che Adams misses out.

I'm a little bit worried, Adams was the one player Saints could not afford to lose, he has been crucial.

It'll be a huge afternoon for Sekou Mara, a gamble from Russell Martin but his hand was have been forced as the only other option was Ross Stewart who isn't fit to start.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at The Hawthorns

To most outsiders, viewed from afar, to see the name West Bromwich Albion in play-off contention again might barely cause a murmur.

Albion, along with fellow semi-finalists Norwich City, jointly hold the record for the most promotions to the Premier League with five, although all have been automatic.

And it might be considered a surprise that, three years on from their last relegation from the top flight under Sam Allardyce that they have not got back there yet.

But that would be to totally airbrush over a traumatic couple of years for this famous old club - Football League founder members in 1888, and the only club in the country whose most famous terrace song comes straight from The Bible. And no, I don't mean "Come On Yow Baggies"!

Image source, Getty Images

The fact is that Albion's long-suffering fans have been through hell and back, especially this past couple of years as they successfully campaigned, long and hard and just the right side of the law, in getting rid of their hated old owners.

They now have genuine hope for the future in the form of their American-based new owners, the Patel family's Bilkul Football WBA - and their highly-praised Spanish head coach Carlos Corberan.

But, make no mistake about it, while Southampton start favourites over two legs, having completely outplayed the Baggies on this ground in February, Albion have a puncher's chance.

They are for the most part a side of players put together by previous Baggies bosses who have responded well to Corberan's coaching. But, after ending the season in fifth, in their first season without Premier League parachute payments, they know they have actually already done well just to be here at all. And they know that none of the pressure is on them!

Image source, BBC Sport

West Bromwich Albion are unchanged from the team that started last weekend's 3-0 home win over Preston - to book fifth place in the final table.

Central defender Kyle Bartley again skippers the side, with club captain Jed Wallace, John Swift, Matt Phillips and Andi Weimann all on a strong, experienced bench.

Fourth-placed Southampton are missing Scotland international Che Adams, who limped off an hour into last Saturday's final-day win at Leeds.

The 16-goal striker is a big loss - and a concern for the Scots too, just a month out from their Euro 2024 opener with Germany.

From the Canaries to the Throstles.

We turn our attentions to West Brom's first leg against Southampton.

Fifth v fourth.

Can either team take an advantage into the second leg of this one?

Simon Lappin
Former Norwich midfielder on BBC Radio Norfolk

Norwich would hope to have won this game.

If you can't win, don't lose it.

The fans wanted to see Norwich go after Leeds and they did that.

But it was a big ask to go after them for 90 minutes.

Chris Goreham
BBC Radio Norfolk commentator

Norwich took the game to Leeds early on. That impetus went out of the game and we were treated to a second 45 minutes of very few chances.

In the end, it is going to come down to a one-off game to make it to Wembley.

The Leeds fans are in good voice, they will think that they have done the hard bit.

The big question is going to be about Josh Sargent - limping out of the game feels really big for this tie.

Jon Newsome
Former Leeds defender on BBC Radio Leeds

I think you would have taken 0-0 at the start of the game.

The second half was more encouraging. Leeds weren't as fluid as I'd like them to be but there's definitely something to take to Elland Road on Thursday night.

There's great support. The Leeds fans made plenty of noise this afternoon and I think they will all go home quite happy.

Nothing in it after the first leg.

Not a game that will live long in the memory.

Norwich had the better of the first half without ever really threatening and Leeds the second... without ever really threatening.

They'll do it again at Elland Road on Thursday.

Has anyone ever seen a play-off game that kicked off at lunchtime that was an exciting match?

This will be the first time Norwich have failed to score in a home game since 9 December.

Simon Lappin
Former Norwich midfielder on BBC Radio Norfolk

Norwich have worked so hard defensively.

This is about managing the game out at 0-0.

Or, by some magnificence, can they work something from a corner?

Take no risk.

Four minutes of time added on at the end of this first leg.

Jon Newsome
Former Leeds defender on BBC Radio Leeds

At half-time, it felt like the ball was a hot potato. No one wanted to take the ball.

In the second half, it's calmed down.

Dan James is electric, got that pace about him. Can he give Leeds something?

Leeds make another change and it's Dan James on for Crysencio Summerville who, much like many of the players in this game, hasn't quite got going today.

Norwich win a free-kick about 40 yards or so from goal.

I'm gonna be kind here and say it's dreadful.

Chris Goreham
BBC Radio Norfolk commentator

Josh Sargent has gone straight down the tunnel.

Any sort of injury, he is not going to have long to recover from it.

Sydney van Hooijdonk - make a name for yourself!

He hasn't scored yet for Norwich. He hasn't been on the pitch much.

Jeff: We've seen some exciting, entertaining play-off matches so far and it's fair to say this isn't one of them.

Lyle: This is the play off equivalent of Mayweather vs Pacquiao. A mouthwatering thriller on paper, which turns out to be the cure for insomnia.

Will anyone land a killer late blow in this?

Norwich striker Josh Sargent picks up a muscle injury and he can't continue.

Sydney van Hooijdonk is on in his stead.

For those of you wondering, yes, he is Pierre's son.

For those of you who don't know who Pierre van Hooijdonk is, congratulations, you are still young.