Southampton v West Brom

1. Southampton XI: Forster, Soares, Fonte, Van Dijk, Targett, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Davis, Mane, Bertrand, Long
2. West Brom XI: Myhill; Olsson, Yacob, Evans, Gardner, Anichebe, McClean, McAuley, Fletcher, Dawson, Sessegnon

It's not that West Brom look anything like getting back into this - nor that Southampton aren't playing like they're going to score a third. 

But the longer this goes on with just one goal in it...

CLOSE!

Brilliant control from Shane Long and he can play in Sadio Mane who is bursting forward. 

It should be three - just the goalkeeper to beat - but the Saints man fires wide!

In his defence the angle wasn't the greatest, but still. Ronald Koeman might well be bristling a little on the Southampton bench.

Tony 'Bomber' Brown

Former West Brom striker on BBC WM 95.6

"West Brom have got to get quality balls into the box. They've got the security of having three centre-halves so they need to get forward and get some good deliveries in from wide areas.”    

Rex Features

Lovely from Sadio Mane. He's always an outlet when Southampton win the ball and here he takes the ball past Craig Dawson with consummate ease. 

Eventually play falls to Cedric Soares, it's rising on the edge of the box... Always a very hard volley to pull off, and it's struck way over. 

There were big gaps as West Brom laboured to reset back into defence there.

West Brom look to have gone to three at the back now. 

It's making a difference, as Chris Brunt finds fellow sub Salomon Rondon. 

There's a header down to Stephane Sessegnon on the edge of the box but that is madly wild - blazed way over the bar on the half volley. What was he even thinking?

That is such a good claim by Fraser Forster. 

West Brom build to win a corner, and the Southampton goalkeeper shows perfect timing and solid handling to pluck the ball out of the air, killing any budding momentum flat.

You can't really call this a chance. 

Victor Anichebe rises to meet a cross from the right but he's always stretching, the header sails over. 

Still. Although it's early there is a lot more about West Brom now. Southampton will have been expecting this...

KICK-OFF

We are back under way!

SUBSTITUTION

A couple of changes to tell you about at half-time for West Brom. 

Chris Brunt is on for Jonas Olsson - very attacking this one

And Salomon Randon is on for Darren Fletcher, who has picked up a bit of an injury. That's another attacking change as well.

Tony 'Bomber' Brown

Former West Brom striker on BBC WM 95.6

PA

“Craig Dawson has had a really tough afternoon, he gave the free kick away that lead to Southampton’s first goal and he has given away the penalty for the second. 

"It’s going to be a long afternoon for West Brom, Tony Pulis will need to earn his money at half time.”

Just the one added minute of time added on.

Stephane Sessegnon spends part of it jinking in front of the Southampton back line, but still there seems to be no way through for West Brom. 

Not a very happy birthday so far for Mr Pulis.

Both sides are winding down a bit before the break now. 

West Brom know they will be facing a rollicking from their manager at half-time...

West Brom get a rare spell of possession, but Southampton show they can defend as well as they can find men going forward. 

With possession turned over Saints can again break with Sadio Mane, but he runs out of steam down the Baggies' left. 

Are you watching, Garth?

Not a bad day for James Ward-Prowse.

Two shots, two goals, two interceptions and excellent with the ball. Of his 28 passes, only four have gone astray. I have a feeling he could be making  Garth Crooks' team of the week...

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'There was contact'

Chris Sutton

Former Chelsea & Norwich striker on Final Score

"Absolutely a penalty. Long slid in a tantalising ball and Dawson bundled Targett over. It wasn't clumsy at such, but there was contact."

CLOSE!

Incredible block off the line by James McClean! 

Matt Targett's low shot looks goal-bound - it has to be! 

But the West Brom winger is there with a delicious little back-heeled clearance. Great style!

'Clumsy by Dawson'

Shay Given

Stoke City & Republic of Ireland goalkeeper on Final Score

  "It is a bit clumsy from Craig Dawson. If it happens anywhere else on the pitch then it is a free-kick so I suppose it is a penalty."  

GOAL - Southampton 2-0 West Brom

Rex Features

Cool as you like from James Ward-Prowse, slotted into the bottom left-hand corner, with Boaz Myhill going the other way.  

PENALTY TO SOUTHAMPTON

  It's Craig Dawson again - taking out Matt Targett.

PA

Which way is this one going? 

Another West Brom ball in from deep causes mischief in the Southampton box, but Saints can break and for a moment it looks like the second is there for the taking. 

Shane Long advances on goal, but the Baggies do well do cover back in numbers  and his low strike is easily gathered.