Southampton climb to second after Fraser and Brooks punish West Brom
Southampton emerged victorious with a stunning 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, propelling them into the automatic promotion spots in the Championship. Key players Ryan Fraser and David Brooks scored, enabling Russell Martin's team to clinch second position and move a point ahead of Leeds in the quest for a quick return to the Premier League.
During the match, the visitors were in control for most of the game and the manager of West Brom, Carlos Corberán, was sent off for kicking the ball while it was still in play. The home team didn't get a penalty for a handball by Jack Stephens, but the atmosphere was already positive due to the announcement of the purchase of an 87.8% stake in West Brom's parent company by Florida-based Shilen Patel. This takeover is set to be approved next week and marks the end of Guochuan Lai's unhappy reign. Patel watched from the directors' box as the home team suffered their third loss of the season but remains in fifth place.
Southampton experienced a huge downfall in their unbeaten streak of 25 matches during their recent game against Bristol City. This made them determined to prove themselves in their next game. Kyle Walker-Peters took a shot from far away but it was not enough as Corberán got dismissed within seven minutes of the game. Soon after, Alex Palmer had to save the game as he stopped Adam Armstrong's shot after a bad first clearance.
Although it was temporarily postponed, Southampton eventually scored first at the 14th minute. Fraser attempted a shot that was deflected off course, but the subsequent corner kick turned out to be the perfect opportunity for the on-loan Newcastle winger to make his mark. Shea Charles passed the ball to Stuart Armstrong, who then produced a deep cross that found Fraser. With a skillful and effortless move, he cushioned the ball into the corner of the goal.
Southampton got a boost after scoring the goal, which helped them take charge of the game. However, they couldn't increase their lead in the opening half, as Adam Armstrong missed a shot. As a result, the home team regained their confidence and put pressure on Southampton. The visitors had a close call when John Swift's attempt from distance went wide. In the additional time, Conor Townsend's shot hit Stephens' arm inside the box, causing West Brom to protest. However, the referee dismissed their appeals.
Throughout the second half of the match, West Brom endeavored to channel their feelings of being unfairly treated onto the field. Despite their determination, they encountered difficulty in making any real progress. A free-kick by Swift was aimed too high and missed the crossbar, and ultimately it was Southampton who secured victory with a goal scored 17 minutes before the end of the game.
The amazing replacement player Joe Aribo created a quick play when he discovered Stuart Armstrong to place the ball in Samuel Edozie's path. Edozie then passed the ball 10 yards to Brooks who spun around and shot the ball past Palmer. Brooks is currently on loan to Bournemouth.
