W.B.A. has surprised me this season with some gritty performances. They were my picks as relegation candidates at the start of the season, but have prove otherwise with performances to date. The appointment of Steve Clarke certainly played a vital part in producing a solid outfit in W.B.A.this season. They have enjoyed a terrific start and would be favourites to bring home full points against Southampton at the Hawthorns.
With Liverpool, Everton, Reading and QPR, all beaten at the Hawthorns, Manchester City are the only team to record a victory against WBA at (the Hawthorns), leaving W.B.A. in eighth place, though they have to be respected for accumulating 14 points from a possible 27.
On the back of two tightly-contested defeats West Bromwich Albion will be looking to get back to winning ways when they host second-bottom Southampton at the Hawthorns.
The Baggies were unfortunate to succumb to an injury time winner in their 2-1 defeat away to Newcastle last weekend, a result that came a week after Manchester City had scored twice in the final ten minutes to defeat them by the same score.
Both results were a kick in the teeth for new head coach Steve Clarke and his charges, but solace will have been taken from the level of performance in both matches. Apart from the need to work on concentration when defending a lead or point, there are few glaring deficiencies to be righted in this WBA side.
West Brom have the requisite personnel to effectively deploy such tactics, with pace and trickery in wide areas and up front, a solid defence and a central midfield pairing that successfully combines brains and brawn. Long-time regular Youssouf Mulumbu provides the brawn and new signing Claudio Yacob – whose excellent reading of the game has been clear to see during his positive start to life in England – supplies the brains.
Saints’ record of one win, one draw and seven defeats is clear relegation form and has seen questions start to be raised over the future of manager Nigel Adkins. Such talk is premature and very harsh on a man who has secured back-to-back promotions over the last two seasons, but such is the cut-throat nature of the Premier League that it would not be wholly surprising to see him relieved of his duties if results do not quickly improve.
Poor defending has been Southampton’s primary problem since returning to the top flight. They have conceded 26 times in their 9 matches to date, comfortably the worst record of any team in the Premier League. They have scored more goals (14) than 11 other teams in the division, but simply cannot continue to concede an average of nearly three goals per match if they are to have any pretensions of staying up.
The defeat on Sunday to Tottenham Hotspur last week saw Southampton slip to 19th place and are kicking off as the bottom club after QPR avoided defeat yesterday.
Record-Signing Gaston Ramirez has recovered from injury to the relief of Adkins The Uruguayan has been training all week and is likely to start the game. Playmaker, Ramirez, showed flashes of brilliance in the home win against Aston Villa (4-1 FT) and after being sidelined for five weeks, he is one player whom could make the difference for teh Saints
Defensively, there have been debates and discussions amongst the supporters on various acquisitions that have proven not to be wise signing. In the opinions of many, the Saints have “swapped” offensive strength for defensive stability. There is a feeling amongst the club’s supporters that money spent on Ramirez, or the £7 million splashed on Jay Rodriguez, would have been better spent on a central defender..
Betting Picks and Short Preview
WBA are determined to put the past two weeks behind and secure all three points that would bring them back into the top six in the League (EPL) They should be of ability to emerge victorious against a Southampton side whose inept defending has fell short at times.
To-Date - four wins, two draws and three defeats : 10 goals scored and conceding 4[W.B.A.]
PICK - West Bromwich Albion -3/4
TG PICK – Over 2.5
PICK: WBA to Win @1.70 [1] (1 x 2) FT
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