Another away game awaits as the Baggies are looking to avoid a streak of 6 away defeats as they travel down to Southampton on Tuesday evening.
Tom Fellows and Adam Armstrong are facing former side West Brom under the lights at St.Mary’s Stadium who are looking to haunt us by the end of Tuesday night. With Ryan Mason under pressure by the fans this game looks set to be another long 90 minutes on the road as I’m not feeling confident about this fixture at all after our 3-1 defeat at QPR on Saturday.
Southampton our opponents who we faced two seasons ago in the Play-off Semis are in excellent form having won 6 out of their 7 games and are looking to beat us at St-Mary’s can we stop the likes of Tom Fellows and Adam Armstrong on their home turf?
Player To Watch – Southampton
One player who everyone is keeping an eye on Tuesday evening is Tom Fellows when his Southampton side face us at the South Coast, the winger who left us on deadline day in September has the most assists in the league since 2024-25, and is one of the key players in this league who are looking to mount a promotion push into the top six.
The winger brings pace, creativity and has an eye for stepovers and is the type of player we need to contain and have to watch out for.
Come Tuesday I expect him would try and cause a number of problems as he is facing us and has his eyes on the fixture list since he came to the club and he is certain to be pumped for this one and would expect him to be at his best and confident for this one.
Player To Watch – West Brom
Since breaking into the starting XI, Krystian Bielik has become a key figure for West Brom. Tuesday night against Southampton could be another showcase of his influence.
But he’s not just a defensive anchor. Bielik helps move the ball forward with smart passing and composure under pressure, giving West Brom a way to transition from defence into attack. His ability to control the tempo in midfield can dictate the rhythm of the game, forcing Southampton to adjust and react to his movements. On top of that, his height and timing make him a threat from set-pieces, giving the Baggies an extra avenue to create chances in tight matches.
If Bielik has a strong game, he could be the difference in controlling the midfield battle, disrupting Southampton’s attacking rhythm, and launching effective counters. For fans, watching him orchestrate the play and dominate the centre of the park will be a key part of the match experience.
Line Up V Southampton
I certainly would be making changes after the weekend’s result at QPR, I be switching to a 3-4-3 formation as I said on a few match previews as the system Mason is playing at the moment for me isn’t working.
He has played that sort of style whilst being interim manager at Tottenham and if he switches this round it might just work especially against a in-form Southampton side away from home you have to tinker it around.
I have a back three of George Campbell, Krystian Bielik and Chris Mepham, in the wing backs I have Alfie Girchrist and Callum Styles, in midfield Jayson Molumby and Diakite for me would play in the middle with Mikey Johnston and a debut start for Ollie Bostock who would be behind Aune Heggebo who is in current form.
Prediction V Southampton
Now onto the predictions last time out I predicted we would come out on top over QPR with a 2-1 win how wrong was I? as QPR damaged us on their home turf and gave us our 6th successive away defeat on the road. For this one I am not confident at all we could pick up a result here especially how in form Southampton are and it could be a long 90 minutes of football on Tuesday.
In the first 6 minutes, there be a opening goal and it be Southampton Tom Fellows would make a really smart run and then lay off for Adam Armstrong to make a strong header that go past Josh Griffiths to give the Saints a early lead and knowing this is another long night of football.
Around the 24th minute, Southampton would go again with Finn Azaz scoring from long range that would beat Griffiths and hit the side netting to double their lead at St Mary’s. Before half time, the Baggies would have a free kick and taken by Mikey Johnston it would go in to halve the deceit and it be 2-1 to Saints at the break.
Second half in the 47th minute, there be hope Ollie Bostock would make a run and cross for Aune Heggebo to make a smart header to give us a needed equaliser that would give our fans a joy with the scoreline back level pegging.
It be 2-2 for a while around the 74th minute Finn Azaz would make a move and pass for Adam Armstrong who make a run that would beat Bielik and Mepham and would slot in to put the Saints back in the lead and around the 81th minute Tom Fellows would then score from long-range to give us heartbreak and it would finish here 4-2 to Southampton.
Prediction: Southampton 4-2 West Brom
I’m going for a 4-2 win for Southampton on Tuesday evening, I predict the first 35 minutes be very long and Saints would cause us nightmares and near half-time we would get a goal from Mikey Johnston, I think confidence would start to show in the second half with Aune Heggebo scoring another goal to put us back in the game and two goals for the hosts would give them a win. I think it be a better performance than Saturday but I can see us being defeated by Southampton in certain outcomes.