West Brom 2-3 Southampton: Saints win thrilling five-goal affair over Baggies
By Chris Hughes
Southampton achieved their first league win since November with an impressive comeback victory over West Brom at The Hawthorns.
A first Southampton goal for Mario Lemina, a third in as many from Jack Stephens, and a free-kick from the on-form James Ward-Prowse were enough to get the Saints all three points, but it wasn’t all plain-sailing in the Midlands.
West Brom scored the first goal of the game with less than four minutes on the clock, and also made for a nervous last 20 with Solomon Rondon making it 3-2 in the 72nd minute.
The result sees the Saints springboard up to 14th in the table, with the game defining the cliche of a ‘six-pointer’. A loss for Southampton would’ve sent them to the foot of the table. Mauricio Pellegrino’s men remain just two points clear of the drop zone but the supporters will hope that the positive result can propel the side into a solid run of form.
The game saw the Argentine field a much more attacking line-up, with Guido Carrillo getting his first start up front. Whilst he didn’t score, he got on the end of several chances which could’ve been buried on another day.
Next: Saints 1-1 Brighton: Match recap
In a game that paid tribute to the prolific former-Baggies forward Cyrille Regis, who sadly passed away last month, West Brom were off the mark before some Saints fans had got comfy.
Chris Brunt delivered what would be his first of two assists from crosses, with this one finding the head of Hegazi who duly tucked away the opportunity.
Supporters noted a total lack of confidence that followed, despite Carrillo having the first of his handful of chances in the game. It took until the 40th minute for the Saints to get back into it properly, when Mario Lemina thumped home his first goal in red and white with an emphatic effort from outside the box. The Gabonese midfielder was pumped up all game, and was arguably Man of the Match.
Just three minutes later the Saints were ahead, with a low delivery from Ward-Prowse finding Stephens, who scored his third in as many games.
In the 55th minute the Saints scored their third, this time JWP delivering the goods himself with a clever, whipped free-kick around the outside of the wall into the far, bottom corner. The Englishman ran the show today, scoring his fourth in five games.
The end of the game made for nervous viewing however with Solomon Rondon proving that the Saints still can’t deal with target men. The forward got on the end of a Chris Brunt cross to his fourth of the campaign.
Next up for the Saints is the small task of facing Liverpool next Sunday.