Southampton will face Leeds in the Championship play-off final as a second-half salvo saw them overcome West Brom 3-1.
Following a goalless draw in the first leg, the Saints prevailed in the second leg at St Mary’s to reach Wembley.
Will Smallbone and Adam Armstrong’s double did the damage in the second half, as they blew the Baggies away late on to settle the semi-final tie.
Cedric Kipre headed in a final-minute consolation for the Baggies, who now face a third successive season in the second tier.
Southampton will face Leeds in the final on Sunday, May 26 – live on Sky Sports Football – with the winner securing promotion to next season’s Premier League.
Saints strike in second half to secure place in final
Southampton dominated the first half at St Mary’s, but the closest they came was when David Brooks clipped the outside of the post following Armstrong’s cross, rarely testing Alex Palmer in the West Brom net.
But the breakthrough was found shortly after half-time. A mistake from Grady Diangana allowed Smallbone in to play a one-two with Brooks, before dashing through the middle and striking an unstoppable effort past Palmer.
Brooks was involved again shortly after as he was chopped down in the box by Kipre, but the referee waved away the penalty protests leaving Southampton, and manager Russell Martin, furious.
But the decision wouldn’t cost Southampton in the end, as Armstrong doubled their lead on 78 minutes, drilling a precise low effort from 14 yards into the bottom corner, before slotting away his second from the penalty spot eight minutes later after Ryan Manning had been brought down in the box.
There would at least be something for the travelling West Brom fans to cheer about late on, as Kipre grabbed a consolation deep into stoppage time.
The goals that took Southampton to Wembley
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Will Smallbone opens the scoring for Southampton with a fantastic strike against West Bromwich Albion in the Championship play-off-semi-final second leg.
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Adam Armstrong scores Southampton’s second against West Brom and edge them closer to the play-off final against Leeds.
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Adam Armstrong seals Southampton’s win against West Brom by scoring their third from the penalty spot as they booked their place at Wembley.
The second leg at St Mary’s in numbers
How Leeds reached the final
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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg between Leeds United and Norwich City.
‘The right final makes its way to Wembley’
Sky Sports’ EFL Editor Simeon Gholam:
“Third versus fourth it will be at Wembley, as Southampton set up their date with destiny against Leeds United.
“Fair play to West Brom and Norwich, who both had solid seasons, but on the basis of what we’ve seen over the campaign you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who’d say we don’t have the right final, with two teams who picked up enough points over the course of the campaign to secure automatic promotion on another day.
“Southampton will maybe feel they have the edge, based on their two wins over Leeds this season – including one just a couple of weeks ago on the final day of the regular campaign at Elland Road.
“But on the day at the national stadium anything can happen, and with so much quality at either end of the pitch it really could go any way.”
What’s next?
Southampton advance to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final, where they will face Leeds at Wembley on Sunday May 26, live on Sky Sports Football.
West Brom will remain in the second tier for the 2024/25 campaign.
