saintant

West Brom obviously changing tactics. RM needs to react.

100% penalty. Cheated.

Seems maybe you are the one not seeing what is actually happening.

I hope RM has something up his sleeve for the second half because we need to be putting them under far more pressure. I'm not holding my breath and fear it will be more of the same and West Brom will grow into the game.

Lots of meaningless possession but in truth we've hardly laid a glove on them. It's all too safe with nobody prepared to take a chance and do something different. We have zero presence up front without Adams and West Brom are very comfortable. The longer it goes the more frustrated we'll become and they will start to creep forward looking for chances on the break. Their plan is working and we are playing a very dangerous game.

Agree 🙂

Weak front line without Adams. Maybe RM should have risked Stewart as he's more or less said he's ready.

He's more likely to start with Mara-donna.

Good luck with that 🙂

Use it to judge offsides but, if lines would have to be drawn give the benefit to the attacking side.

Spot on and this is something RM needs to address but I think it goes against his beliefs. It's just a crazy way to play unless you are Man City. As it stands under RM player A receives the ball in a tight spot and passes it to player B in a tighter spot who passes it to player C in an impossible position and he tries to pass it to player D but only succeeds in gifting it to an opponent and risks giving a goal away. In a world of common sense player B or C nips it in the bud and launches the ball into row Z while RM shakes his head in the technical area but most Saints fans heave a collective sigh of relief. I'm not saying play hoof ball but there are clearly times when we should be clearing our lines rather than trying the impossible.

We've given ourselves a good chance but this is still very much in the balance. I recall that West Brom played far better at St Marys than they did at home and we were fortunate to beat them. We'll need to be right on our game and certainly cannot afford any passengers like Mara. If Adams is unfit we must start Stewart. Stephens needs to be much more careful with his passing particularly the square ones as he gave the ball away in dangerous situations a few times yesterday. Fellows is a big concern and we don't really have the means or players to deal with him. Still believe we'll have enough to win but it is unlikely to be a walk in the park.

We all know he's not a clinical finisher but we are a far better side with him in the starting eleven as proved again today.

We were missing our centre forward and had no adequate replacement. These games are notoriously tough. If we hadn't turned up today we'd now be 2 or 3 goals adrift going into the second leg. West Brom were never going to roll over today. We handled a very hard fought game with relatively few dangerous moments. If we'd not been on it and allowed them to take the lead the outcome could have been a different story. It was a good performance from us other than a few mistakes and we were right not to go gung-ho because that might have handed them the place at Wembley.

If we go up wouldn't mind us trying to sign their keeper.

I was happy with that performance. It's a play-off game with a massive prize at stake so no quarter asked or given. We controlled large parts of the game which helped sustain energy to repel everything West Brom threw at us as they tried to take a lead to St Marys. It's not cut and dried but we've given ourselves a good chance to get to Wembley. These games are rarely easy so well played lads.

Apart from setting Stewart away and him almost scoring the winner of course.

I think the point about Stewart is he's a goal scorer. In a shortish cameo he had our best effort and but for a worldie save would have won it for us.

If Adams is unfit I'd start Stewart for the second leg.

Thought Downes was superb. Must have watched a different game.

Tough game, take the 0-0.

I'd take the 0-0 now.

Clearly missing Che's strength and hold-up play - Mara really is a seriously poor replacement so I'd bring on Stewart at half-time although I accept it won't happen. Our biggest worries are Fellows against Manning plus I'm concerned we'll be punished from continually giving the ball away in our own half especially by Stephens. McCarthy made a good save and Bednarek has been our best defender. Aribo, Smallbone and Downes doing well in midfield.

Is Mara wearing concrete boots?

No card for that!