Southampton 1-0 West Brom AS IT HAPPENED: Sofiane Boufal stunner secures the points

Southampton 1-0 West Brom: Express Sport brought you the latest team news, updates and analysis from St Mary’s

BYEEEEEEE

19:30: Thanks for joining me today folks. I’ll be back again tomorrow to bring you LIVE coverage of Everton vs Arsenal followed by Tottenham vs Liverpool. Should be a cracking day. Night!

SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 WEST BROM

FT: They’ve done it. Southampton have won t thanks to a fine piece of individual skill from Sofiane Boufal, who’s easily won MOTM having been on the pitch for ten minutes.

94: Time running out for West Brom. Do they have one last chance left in them?

93: The Baggies are knocking at the door in the closing stages. First time they’ve had more than Jay Rodriguez up there.

91: Yep, Dawson off injured. Tony Pulis has lost two centre-backs today. Not good news for the tactician.

FOUR MINUTES ADDED TIME

88: Precious seconds tick away with Craig Dawson down injured. The Baggies have made all their changes, so could be down to 10.

SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 WEST BROM - BOUFAL

85: There’s been a goal, this is NOT a drill.

Substitute Sofiane Boufal collects the ball deep inside his own half, strides forward with a couple of dummies and plants it in the bottom corner.

Goal of the Season contender. No doubt.

84: Southampton’s attack has gone up a gear, but so has West Brom’s defence. The Baggies playing with a back five as the home side probe in the final stages.

83: Couple of chances in quick succession. Firstly Van Dijk almost connects with a volley but skews the connection. Nathan Redmond then whips a shot narrowly wide of the post.

Southampton make their final two changes with Boufal and Austin on for Tadic and Long.

80: Just ten minutes left folks. We’ve almost bloody made it!

79: Tony Pulis makes his final change with Matt Phillips replacing Nacer Chadli.

78: Southampton supporters are trying their best to galvanise their side. Lots of noise inside the stadium and it seems to be doing the trick as the Baggies retreat deeper and deeper into their half.

75: Right, we’ve got 15 minutes remaining and it’s still goalless. Is there a winner somewhere? Please say there’s a winner, please!

73: Huge chance! Dusan Tadic should make the breakthrough after collecting the ball with only Foster to beat… Nope. The midfielder shoots straight at the stopper, who stayed big in fairness.

70: Good to see Pellegrino listening to me. Defensive midfielder Oriel Romeu is replaces by forward Nathan Redmond.

69: Surely it’s time for Nathan Redmond and Charlie Austin? Steven Davis and Shane Long are basically passengers now. It’s looking like Tony Pulis is winning the battle of minds with that tactical introduction of Gareth McAuley.

66: What on earth has happened to Fraser Forster?! He’s had two high balls to deal with all match. He missed the first completely, and just dropped the second like it was a bar of soap. Lucky to escape without conceding there.

65: That was his moment. Jay Rodriguez has a golden opportunity to stick it to Southampton after running onto a Rondon knock-down, but scuffs it wide.

When I say wide, I actually mean it hit the corner flag.

62: I don’t want to jinx it, but the game is starting to open up. Tadic skips past a couple of challenges but Gabbiadini can’t find anyone in the area. Serious danger of a contest breaking out…

60: Chance! Kieran Gibbs, who was West Brom’s most advanced player, climbs above Cedric but can’t get any power on the header.

57: Rondon chests a long ball down for Jay Rodriguez, who attempts a shot I’ve never seen before. I was almost like a karate kick lob?

55: Shane Long has a snapshot from distance but Foster is down to collect it easily. Looks like Tony Pulis isn’t content with how dull this game is, so decides to bring Gareth McAuley on for Gareth Barry. 37-year old on for the 36-year-old to freshen things up…

51: God this game needs a goal. West Brom are showing absolutely no ambition to win this. Just absorbing pressure and punting it long. Gabbiadini wins a rare header but he’s turned it onto the roof of the net.

48: West Brom attempt to hit Southampton on the break but it’s Gareth Barry and Rondon who surge forward… it was quickly snuffed out. Obviously.

45: We’re back underway at St Mary’s. No changes for either side.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Mark: Generally better from Southampton. Just need an earlier delivery into the box and an early second half goal to open the game up.

Justin: How Southampton are not out of sight here is anyone's guess. So many chances created but not taken against the Baggies set up for a 0-0 so far.

Bella: Lucky scarf getting first airing of season and looking as likely as Shane Long to have immediate impact for Southampton.

SOUTHAMPTON 0-0 WEST BROM

HT: After two uneventful minutes of added time, referee Graham Scott shows some mercy by blowing for half-time. Absolutely abysmal game of football.

TWO MINUTES ADDED TIME

44: Good play from Southampton with Shane Long teeing up Dusan Tadic, who delays his shot for an eternity before winning a corner.

The resulting set-piece draws a cracking save from Ben Foster, who parries away Miya Yoshida’s header.

Oh, and now he's just attempted an overhead kick, which didn’t end well. Shinnnnnnnerrrrrrrr.

41: Pass, pass, pass… interception. Repeat for 38 minutes and that’s you pretty much updated. Just the one three decent chances to speak of with Tadic and Romeu being wasteful, and Bertrand rattling the crossbar. It’s just so congested in the middle of the park that nobody can create anything. Weather isn’t helping either.

38: Can anyone tell me why West Brom have been on television twice in six days? Not easy on the eye.

35: Lovely counter from Saints. Gabbiadini shrugs off Hegazi before releasing the ball to Long, who can’t adjust his body to tuck it under Foster.

31: Big blow for Tony Pulis as Jonny Evans is forced off with a back injury. Nasty fall from distance. He’s replaced by Allan Nyom. Craig Dawson will probably move to centre-back.

30: Not a game you’d like to be attending. If the wind caused by Storm Bryan Adams wasn’t bad enough, it’s absolutely pelting it down. Nacer Chadli can’t recreate Monday’s heroics when hitting a free-kick straight into the wall.

28: Virgil van Dijk hits one, and it stays hit. He comes forward from the back, and decides to let rip with no other options on. Just over.

25: Southampton win a couple of corners on the spin, and should arguably take the lead. The Baggies fail to clear the delivery but Romeu can’t prod it home from point-blank range.

23: Vintage Tadic. The midfielder receives a great pass from Davis inside the penalty area, but tamely strikes it straight at Foster. Never been the most clinical of players.

20: Danger! Southampton have themselves a free-kick just outside the area.

Ryan Bertrand steps up… Woodwork! The full-back’s shot skimmed off the head of Jonny Evans, and bounces off the post and away to safety.

I think that was heading for the corner if that pesky former Manchester United centre-back didn’t get a touch.

17: Charlie Austin and Nathan Redmond are clearly discussing why on earth they’re not on the pitch. Not sure what Charlie Austin has to do to get a start these days. Shane Long hasn’t scored in 25 games...

13: I’m supposed to update you regularly, but honestly, it’s pretty difficult when nothing is happening. Lemina shoots from the better part of 35-yards, and it flies over.

10: Neither side have been able to get a grip on the match. West Brom are tidy at the back, as you already knew, while Southampton can’t carve them open.

6: Gareth Barry has a crack from distance, but it nestles into the side netting. Even the shot looked 36-years-old there. Almost like slow motion.

Miya Yoshida nods Davis’ corner wide.

3: Martin Keown, who’s co-commentating on BT Sport tonight, manfully attempts to build excitement by mentioning that Jay Rodriguez is against his former club, but he’s not fooling anyone.

The Saints are seeing all the ball in the opening stages, but nothing to worry Ben Foster.

SOUTHAMPTON 0-0 WEST BROM

1: Right, I suppose we should get this thing started. Expectations are low, but maybe we’ll get a nice surprise. That wasn’t the most encouraging start to a blog now was it?!

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Stephen: Going to be a cracker this Southampton vs West Brom. Strong coffee needed…

Gary: Why drop Nathan Redmond, who has pace and has created the most chances for us, for the past-it Davis?!

Rob: Not a clue what Austin, Boufal and Hoedt have to do to start a game. If Forster makes another mistake today I'll flip!

GABBI NEEDS HELP

17:25: Southampton striker Manolo Gabbiadini cannot be expected to do all the work if the team are to get back to winning ways against West Brom, according to manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

Funny that, I didn’t realise he was carrying such a burden on his shoulders.

"The offensive jobs are the responsibility for all of us because sometimes he is doing a lot of diagonal runs in behind with a lot of movement, but if we do not pass properly then it will be difficult for the striker," Pellegrino said.

"They need to have their team-mates arriving in the box also, it is not just about the striker."

THE STARTING XI’S

17:20: Jay Rodriguez against his former club? It’s just going to happen, right?

Southampton XI: Forster, Cedric, Yoshida, van Dijk, Bertrand, Lemina, Romeu, Long, Davis, Tadic, Gabbiadini.

Subs: Hoedt, Austin, McCarthy, Ward-Prowse, Boufal, Redmond, McQueen. 

West Brom XI: Foster, Dawson, Hegazi, Evans, Gibbs, Livermore, Krychowiak, Barry, Rodriguez, Rondon, Chadli.

Subs: Nyom, Yacob, Phillips, Brunt, Myhill, McClean, McAuley.

Referee: Graham Scott.

EVENING

17:15: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of Southampton vs West Brom from St Mary’s Stadium.

We’ve already seen the surprise of the century with Huddersfield beating Manchester United 2-1, so it’ll be a stiff task for anything to top that on the South Coast this evening.

However, I’m always open to surprises. And who knows, maybe Tony Pulis’ side WON’T score from a set-piece…

Let’s get started!

SOUTHAMPTON vs BOURNEMOUTH - PREVIEW

Saints forward Manolo Gabbiadini hopes to retain his place in attack after scoring both goals in the 2-2 draw against Newcastle.

Full-back Jeremy Pied continues to work his way back to full fitness from a groin injury.

West Brom hope either Ben Foster or Boaz Myhill will be fit to keep goal - Foster (knee) missed the Leicester game and Myhill finished it with hamstring trouble.

James Morrison, Oliver Burke and Hal Robson-Kanu remain out with muscle injuries.

Last season: West Brom 0 Southampton 1, Southampton 1 West Brom 2

Last five league matches: Southampton L W L L D; West Brom L D L D D

Top scorers (all competitions): Manolo Gabbiadini (Southampton) 3; Jay Rodriguez & Salomon Rondon (West Brom) 2