Nothing to separate West Brom and Southampton in play-off first leg

National World - LocalTV

Birmingham World reporter Charlie Haffenden reacts to West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Southampton, the Championship play-off semi-final first leg at The Hawthorns.

Transcript

00:00 West Bromwich Albion are still very much in the Championship playoff semi-final against Southampton.

00:06 Both teams today playing out a 0-0 draw here at the Hawthorns.

00:10 A very hot and sticky Hawthorns, humid.

00:13 Russell Martin after the game complaining about the conditions.

00:16 The players enduring two drinks breaks throughout.

00:19 The referee, in the end a young referee, deciding that that was the best decision because of the heat.

00:23 Now actually it's clouded over, it's got a lot cooler here.

00:26 Maybe the players could have done with that a bit more earlier on today.

00:29 But this is the nature of the playoffs.

00:31 It's in May, it's going to be hot.

00:33 It's going to be hot, they contested as well on the field and that's what we saw today.

00:37 Both teams neither deserved to lose.

00:40 So the fact it was a 0-0 draw is very much deserved.

00:43 But it's a surprise that it was goalless.

00:45 There were so many clear-cut chances for both teams.

00:47 The goalkeepers, Alex Palmer and Alex McCarthy, making some big saves.

00:51 Grady Deanganas, I think right at the end was a big opportunity.

00:55 And also a header in the first half as well.

00:58 Saints had their own opportunities.

01:00 Flynn Downs was one in the first half and in the second as well.

01:04 And there was also one in the first half when Kyle Walker-Peters got beyond Collar Townsend

01:10 and fired a shot towards the far corner.

01:13 Whether it was a cross or a shot, I'm not too sure.

01:15 But it was deflected off Townsend and very nearly went in.

01:18 There was also a deflected shot from a Southampton winger.

01:23 I can't even remember. I think it was Stewart, Ross Stewart on the left-hand side.

01:26 A bit of a blur now, but it was saved excellently.

01:29 That's the thing I remember by Palmer, by his feet.

01:32 He was diving, it was deflected off.

01:34 Karl Bartley, I believe it was, so awkwardly.

01:36 You'd expect it to fly past Palmer, but he somehow got the connection on his foot to keep the ball out.

01:43 In the end, it was 0-0 here at the Hawthorns.

01:45 I think West Brom deserve to be going to St Mary's with no disadvantage.

01:51 I think they definitely held their own.

01:53 But they weren't clinical enough to take their opportunities

01:56 and take advantage of the incredible atmosphere at the Hawthorns.

01:59 Carlos Corbán in the post-match press conference admitted that it was the best atmosphere he's ever experienced in his career.

02:06 Which is pretty impressive considering he's managed in Spain, he's managed across Europe.

02:10 Of course, he's been in the play-off final with Huddersfield at Wembley.

02:13 So to say that this was the best atmosphere he's experienced is quite something.

02:17 But I'd have to agree in terms of how strong it was and how loud and proud the West Brom fans were.

02:23 Especially before the game, you can hardly hear yourself.

02:25 Not helped by the PA system actually at the Hawthorns, making some strange noises and getting some feedback.

02:31 But in terms of the fans themselves, you didn't need any public announcements from the speakers.

02:36 The noise was from the fans, it was really impressive.

02:39 It's just a shame that Albion couldn't gain an advantage to go to St Mary's next week.

02:43 But that is where they go on Friday.

02:45 They've got a few days to prepare for that one.

02:47 It should be a bit cooler down on the south coast.

02:50 Can they hold off and can they deal with the St Mary's atmosphere?

02:54 We'll have to wait and see.

02:55 But West Brom have got a fantastic chance, they've got plenty to learn and take from this.

02:59 They just need to go one step further now to reach the play-off final at Wembley.

03:03 And then who knows what can happen against Leeds or Norwich City for a place in the Premier League.

03:08 But still lots to do, still lots to play for at St Mary's on Friday.

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