Southampton 3-1 West Brom (Agg 3-1): Saints head into Championship play-off final against Leeds | Football news

Report and highlights of the free Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg between Southampton and West Bromwich Albion at St Mary’s on Friday night | Saints are pushing to reach the final at Wembley, where they will face Leeds for a place in the Premier League.

Southampton will face Leeds in the Championship play-off final as a second-half volley saw them beat West Brom 3-1.

Following a goalless draw in the first leg, Saints prevailed in the second leg at St Mary’s to reach Wembley.

Will Smallbone and Adam Armstrong’s brace did the damage in the second half as they blew the Baggies away late on to settle the semi-final tie.

Cedric Kipre headed in a last-minute consolation for the Baggies, who now face a third consecutive season in the second tier.

Southampton will face Leeds in the final on Sunday 26 May – live Sky Sports Football – with the winner securing promotion to next season’s Premier League.

Saints strike in the second half to secure a place in the final

Southampton dominated the first half at St Mary’s but the closest they came was when David Brooks clipped the outside of the post from Armstrong’s cross, rarely testing Alex Palmer in the West Brom net.

But the breakthrough was found shortly after the break. A mistake by Grady Diangana allowed Smallbone to play a one-two with Brooks before he cut through the middle and hit an unstoppable effort past Palmer.

Brooks was involved again shortly after being brought down in the box by Kipre, but the referee waved away penalty protests leaving Southampton and manager Russell Martin fuming.

But the decision would not cost Southampton in the end as Armstrong doubled their lead in the 78th minute, forcing a precise, low effort from 14 yards into the bottom corner before curling his second away from penalty spot eight minutes later after Ryan Manning finished. been knocked down in the box.

It would at least be something for West Brom’s traveling fans to apply late on as Kipre grabbed a consolation deep into stoppage time.

The goals that took Southampton to Wembley

Martin: My players were amazing | I am so proud of Will Smallbone

Southampton administrator Russell Martin on Sky Sports Football:

“The players were amazing. I’m really proud of them. In the first half we were good, in the second half they were unbelievable. They loosened up a little bit. We made some adjustments to things and they did so well. .

“Some of the football was amazing. We faced a very good team and a top coach in Carlos. But in the end I feel we got what we deserved.

“Now we have to get there (promotion) for it to mean anything. It all leads to the big one. If we can play with the same grit and intensity as we did tonight, we’ll give ourselves a chance. It’s one we can enjoy tonight that. and be a little relieved. But then it’s about getting ready.

“When the fans sing his name, I feel emotional for Will (Smallbone). He is so desperate to play for his club. It’s his club. He’s had some rough times in his short career so far.

“He is an amazing human being and watching him grow this season has been one of the greatest privileges of my managerial career so far. It was so important to us. He’s selfless, he’s a brilliant teammate, and he grows in importance throughout.

“He has the ability to be a top player and I’m proud of him.”

Corberan: Now is the time to feel the pain

West Brom administrator Carlos Corberan on Sky Sports Football:

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t avoid losing some of the ball and I got the goal from that situation. In general, it’s not just about that situation; I don’t think the team felt as comfortable when I wasn’t with the ball. I didn’t attacked at the level we wanted to attack.

“When those things happen and there’s a good team in front of you, you’re going to suffer because good teams use mistakes well.

“Now is the time to feel the pain. That’s the feeling we all have because we had the motivation to go to Wembley. We didn’t want it to just be the play-offs but it didn’t happen. Now is the time to finish this season and from tomorrow we will start the next one.”

Second leg at St Mary’s in numbers

How Leeds reached the final

Scorers: Smallbone & Armstrong

Will Smallbone on Sky Sports Football:

“My goal was just instinctive! What a win. It was a tough game, West Brom are a tough team. The fans were brilliant and they turned up in numbers which spurred us on to victory.

“The manager has put a lot of faith in me this year and I can’t say enough about what he’s done for me and my career. It’s been my dream to be here playing for as long as I can remember and to do it right. now it’s amazing.”

Adam Armstrong on Sky Sports Football:

“It’s amazing and something we’ve been working towards all year, to get back into the Premier League. We’ve been put off by not finishing in the top two, but if we can go up like that, what a treat it will be.

“I’m proud of everybody. The way we play is not easy. You’ve seen how we keep the ball and sometimes it’s exciting. It paid off today. We had to put a marker down for the final and we’ve done that.”

Warnock: It will be an incredible final

“Proper final heads to Wembley”

Sky Sports EFL Editor Simeon Gholam:

“Third versus fourth will be at Wembley as Southampton set up their meeting with destiny against Leeds United.

“Fair play to West Brom and Norwich, who have both had solid seasons, but based on what we’ve seen in the campaign, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who would say we don’t have the right final, with two teams who have accumulated enough points throughout the campaign to ensure automatic promotion on another day.

“Southampton may feel they have an advantage, based on the two wins they have had over Leeds this season – including one just a few weeks ago on the final day of the regular campaign at Elland Road.

“But on the day at the national stadium anything can happen and with so much quality at each end of the pitch it really could go either way.”

What’s next?

Southampton advance to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final, where they will face each other Leeds at Wembley on Sunday 26 May live Sky Sports Football.

West Brom will remain in the second tier for the 2024/25 campaign.