Southampton 3 - West Bromwich Albion 2

Date:	Tuesday 9th December 2025
Competition:	Sky Bet Championship
Southampton: 5.5	(3-4-2-1) Bazunu, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Quarshie, Fellows 5.6 (Fraser, 63), Downes, Jander (Romeu, 87), Manning, Azaz (Aribo, 87), Léo Scienza (Archer, 63), Armstrong (Robinson, 75) Unused subs: McCarthy, Stephens, Edwards, Welington
WBA: 3.5	(4-2-3-1) Wildsmith 3.0, Bielik 4.6, Phillips 3.9, Mepham 3.6, Styles 5.6, Diakité 4.4 (Johnston, 76 6.6), Mowatt 3.2 (Molumby, 39 4.0), Iling-Junior 2.6, Price 3.8 (Dike, 89 4.2), Grant 5.8, Heggebø 5.9 Unused subs: Griffiths, Campbell, Maja, Gilchrist, Bany, Bostock Manager: Ryan Mason 2.2
Scorers:	Léo Scienza (12), Armstrong (17, 35); Grant (62), Phillips (86)
Referee:	Sam Allison 5.2
Attendance:	26,865 Home Fans 4.6 Away Fans 6.2

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Ratings submitted so far: 14

Brendan Clegg:

Writing this up on the early train home from Southampton after getting all of the way down here and staying the night over.

Let's be honest... when we saw the lineup I feel like every Albion fan knew what was coming. The atmosphere below the stand was more like a wake.

The player selections, the change in formation and approach after such a quick turn around... the glaring lack of pace at the back. It was never going to end well.

I guess it was surprising how badly and how quickly it unfolded. We did our usual not keeping the ball very well for a few minutes before we got caught playing a suicidal high line and high press against a player we know really well. I think it was Mepham who went charging into their half to try and stop Fellows early - got spun and from then on he was never getting back and as TF drove at us he showed composure to play in their striker who finished neatly.

Within a few minutes it got worse. Price... with loads of grass ahead of him to run into decided to stop and play backwards, and across our line it went before an error in us tippy-tappying about allowed Armstrong in to finish.

We had a bit of a rally and Heggebø and Grant at least tried to make things happen but our shooting was way off.

Southampton added a third before the break. Another easy move down our left hand side and a simple finish. Mowatt hobbled off, Molumby came on and off we went to a chorus of boos... the easiest game Southampton will ever have.

No subs at the break. No change of plan. Southampton eased off. We were honestly dreadful with people like Price and Molumby trying to hit Hollywood passes which are really coward passes. In Southampton easing off, we did actually create some chances and moments and it began to dawn on the players that they were playing a team who, like most in this league, are brittle and not very good.

Grant scored a decent goal on his left foot from a bobbling corner and it gave us a bit of energy. We then at least had enough belief for Grant and Iling Junior to at least do the basics - get the ball, run out your fullback and cross it. Despite them both being 'inverted' they both get their best joy playing like classic wingers and it forced a load of corners where there were three in a row that we were denied by great goalkeeping or defending.

MJ came on for the shattered Diakite with 15 to go... who knows what system we were playing... and we put a bit more pressure on before Phillips nodded home another decent corner.

With Southampton rocking we tried to feed off the momentum... flinging on Dike (you have to ask... if now, then why not before in many other games) and at the death SIJ steamed in at the back post to slot a sitter expertly the wrong side of the post.

I don't think the fightback should allow anyone off the hook. This was another clueless and rudderless performance that was miles off it, and despite the individual errors and performances... it is absolutely about a head coach who has been so obviously out of his depth since about the 5th game of the season. Some of us went early but when you know you know. This is worse than Bruce, way worse than Ismael and the only thing that will save us from relegation with this guy in charge is the plight of Sheffield Wednesday and the budget/quality of a handful of other teams. Even that isn't guaranteed... it could still easily happen. We have to act.

Wildsmith - 5 Not at fault but his saves to shots ratio is alarming
Bielik - 5 Tried but his lack of pace was exposed
Phillips - 4 Looked like he'd never played with the other two. Good goal though
Mepham - 4 Has made more mistakes resulting in goals than Josh Griffiths
SIJ - 4 It's not nice seeing a young player hung out to try but had no confidence from the off... when he did show a bit of belief he wasn't terrible but it was so rare. He was also really struggling with 10 to go and should have been hooked... Price could have played there. You've got to finish those though.
Mowatt - 4 Generally outrun and going nowhere
Diakite - 6 I thought he did his job okay
Price - 3 Absolute Spice Boy performance. Floppy hair running but truly woeful on the ball. Zero bottle. I think he was the only person wearing gloves in the ground
Styles - 5 not great, but at least battled
Grant - 6 as above, had a bit about him at least, when he kept it simple he was okay
Heggebø - 6 Pretty thankless task but he tried

Molumby - 5 Sloppy, trying to hit worldie passes
MJ - 6 Gave us a spark
Dike - Whooooooooooooo? At least put himself about and gave them something to think about