Southampton v West Brom preview: Saints clash will be a true marker for Albion
A true marker of Albion’s recent improvements will come in Southampton tomorrow.
There are not many more challenging tests in the Championship than a face-off with Russell Martin’s Saints, unbeaten in seven, at the moment.
The clash at St Mary’s on the south coast sees fourth welcome fifth in the second tier and it is not too much of a leap to expect both the Saints and Baggies to be mixing it for a place in at least the top six come May. Southampton, though, have loftier expectations of an instant return to the Premier League and are working from a more wealthy and stable footing.
New boss Martin, formerly of Swansea and MK Dons, undoubtedly brings a certain playing style of possession football and perhaps it’s a method that takes time to transmit. The Saints certainly found their first Championship campaign since 2011/12 difficult to adjust to.
A run of four straight defeats in September surprised onlookers, but Martin’s style appears to have clicked and five wins and two draws from seven highlights the stern test ahead for Carlos Corberan’s men.
Albion take their own fine form south and a solid defensive record should provide confidence against a Saints frontline spearheaded by eight-goal former Blackburn hot-shot Adam Armstrong.
