Armstrong double sinks West Brom and sends Southampton to Wembley

Can Southampton go from ruins to glory? The passionate welcome from their fans before the game left behind a scene of debris, including fireworks, smoke bombs, empty bottles and cans. However, as the supporters left an energized St Mary's Stadium, they headed home with plans to attend the upcoming match at the legendary Wembley Stadium.

Russell Martin's team received an enthusiastic reception by fans after their victory. They are now closer to coming back to the Premier League after their first attempt. They will play against Leeds and have a week to get ready for it. Will Smallbone scored the first goal in the second half, which helped calm down any tense atmosphere. Later on, Adam Armstrong scored two more goals; the first was a really good shot and the second came after he successfully converted a penalty.

The Southampton players decided to board the team coach together. However, they were welcomed by a thick cloud of red smoke and a fan-made honour guard upon their arrival. The bus driver from Ellisons was highly praised for expertly maneuvering through the chaotic scene. This occurred even before players such as Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes, David Brooks, and Armstrong had a chance to shine on the field.

Martin exclaimed that the noise was unbelievable and the people's passion was palpable. He mentioned that the boys spotted their family members in the crowd, and Martin himself saw his brother and son, which was an extraordinary experience for him. He added that he had never witnessed something like this before, and there were many individuals who were overwhelmed with emotions on the bus ride in. This made his team talk a breeze, thanks to the energy that surrounded them.

The way Southampton played was really beautiful. Their movements were smooth and every player could switch positions effortlessly, creating a seamless and effective attack. However, there were also some unsavory tactics happening in the background. To make room for one of their opponent's long throws, the Saints Foundation added some advertisement signs to the sidelines.

Although it was not charitable, it was not considered foul play, which Carlos Corberán took in good stride. The head coach of West Brom acknowledged that as long as actions are within the regulations, they are fair. However, he did express disappointment in his team's delayed arrival into the away dressing room due to pre-game festivities. The team had to wait for 15 minutes on the bus, but unfortunately, the opposing team, who was the strongest on the pitch, was able to achieve their goal.

The whole situation seemed like a matter of retaliation. During the first leg at the Hawthorns, Southampton wasn't pleased with the dry pitch, and West Brom wasn't happy with the lack of communication upon arrival at Southampton. However, these grievances were relatively insignificant compared to the unpleasant incidents that occurred at the end of the match. After the final whistle, some Southampton fans stormed the pitch and taunted the visiting supporters, causing a back-and-forth exchange of harmful objects like missiles, seats, and flares. Eventually, police and stewards worked to bring order to the situation.

Martin commented that he didn't witness the incident, however, he believes it was unnecessary and only a small group of people were involved. The fans who attended the game were wonderful except for those who participated in the incident. If their behavior puts a sour note on the night's victory and getting to play at Wembley, then they have failed themselves. Nonetheless, he hopes that the incident was only a few people and most of the fans enjoyed a fantastic night and exhibited great behavior.

According to Martin, his most memorable day in football was when he led Norwich to the Premier League by winning the Championship playoff final in 2015. Southampton acknowledged the importance of this event and celebrated it, as seen by the festive atmosphere near the Itchen Stand two hours before the start of the game. Martin praised his players for their bravery and expressed his hope that they can demonstrate this performance on a larger stage and can stay true to themselves as a team. He further added that next week's opportunity could be the greatest and most significant moment, and they must ensure that it is indeed the case.

During the first half of the game, neither team was able to score despite Southampton having most of the possession. People who were watching the game could feel the excitement in the stadium because important people like Rishi Sunak and Dragan Solak were there. Dragan Solak was so thrilled that he was seen jumping up and down after Armstrong scored from the penalty spot. Although West Brom attempted to score with Kipré's header towards the end, Southampton was always in control and won the game easily.

Brooks was exceptional during the game. He hit the post in the first half after receiving a pass from Armstrong and then set up Smallbone to score in the second half. Smallbone was the one who started and ended the play, intercepting a bad pass from Grady Diangana and then moving forward with the ball. He then passed the ball to Brooks, who deftly used the outside of his left foot to set Smallbone up again. Smallbone took a few touches before unleashing a powerful shot with his right foot, which hit the woodwork and went past Alex Palmer into the visitors' goal.

Southampton could have had a great opportunity to increase their lead by scoring from the penalty spot around the 60-minute mark. Regrettably, the referee, Tim Robinson, didn't give a penalty, even though Kipré had fouled Brooks in the penalty area before taking possession of the ball. Nonetheless, Armstrong managed to finish off West Brom with a powerful shot in the 78th minute and then scored the third goal from the penalty spot to secure their spot at Wembley.