West Brom fans silenced as Southampton supporters took over in front of Shilen Patel
A “wall of noise” created by the West Brom fans in front of incoming owner Shilen Patel was brought to an abrupt end and replaced by Southampton fans at The Hawthorns, according Ged Scott.
The BBC Sport journalist reported live from the ground on 16 February, via the broadcaster’s live-blog of the game, after Ryan Fraser put the visitors ahead inside the opening quarter of an hour to silence the celebratory Baggies atmosphere.
With the takeover announced a night earlier and the incoming owner in attendance it was “like turning a power switch on and off” as Saints supporters celebrated in front of the watching American.
Scott wrote: “This is supposed to be West Bromwich Albion’s night. New owner in the house, fans singing incessantly and the place is bouncing – but Southampton clearly haven’t read the script.
“Stung by Tuesday’s setback at Ashton Gate, Saints have started well, finished well to take a probably deserved lead – and the atmosphere is suddenly transformed.
“It was like turning a power switch on and off, that change in volume. The Albion wall of noise came to an abrupt end – and there was almost a pause before the Saints fans suddenly took over!”
West Brom atmosphere transformed by Southampton in front of Shilen Patel
The start to the Championship clash suggested that everyone on the West Brom side had got overexcited at the news of the takeover.
Carlos Corberan was shown a red card for touching the ball when it hadn’t gone off the pitch, and the players looked nothing like the organised side that has got them into the the promotion picture this season.
It took until late in the half for the Baggies to start resembling a proper outfit, as they were unfortunate to see a penalty appeal waved away seconds before a chance was cleared off the line before the break.
Patel would no doubt have wanted to see a West Brom on top form to help contribute to a party atmosphere, but what was always going to be a difficult game went very differently to begin with.
In light of months-long uncertainty at The Hawthorns which must have been as stressful inside the club as it has been for fans on the outside perhaps a brief lapse in focus was understandable.
Clearly the release of pressure as the Guochuan Lai era finally comes to an end can’t be allowed to derail the hugely impressive levels that Corberan and his players have maintained in embattled circumstances.
One game against a club looking for automatic promotion isn’t the end of the world, but the first action after the announcement put a definite dampener on things at a celebratory time as the Baggies fell to a 2-0 defeat.
In other West Brom news, multiple players are still expected to leave the club despite the takeover developments.
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