Ian Holloway sends message to Corberan from motorhome in Staffordshire ahead of West Brom clash
West Brom prepare to take on Southampton this weekend in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final, and Ian Holloway has given his thoughts on manager Carlos Corberan.
The former QPR, Crystal Palace and Blackpool manager was a live radio guest on talkSPORT from his motorhome in Lichfield, Staffordshire, having attended an event at St. George’s Park on Thursday.
Albion host Saints at The Hawthorns on Sunday 12 May and Holloway, speaking with Alan Brazil and Ray Parlour on talkSPORT [May 10, 06:42], delivered a message to Corberan.
“Carlos Corberan was unlucky a few years ago with Huddersfield Town, so well done to him and West Brom for getting there,” said Holloway.
“I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to watch the games. It’s a hard one to call.”
West Brom v Southampton – who goes to Wembley?
As two clubs considering themselves top-flight teams, both the Baggies and Southampton will be eager to return to the Premier League, after three years and just one season out of it respectively.
Corberan will be prioritising combating the Saints’ high press out of possession and patient build-up play with the ball, and may be prepared to shuffle his pack with some brave calls to adapt to Russell Martin’s gameplan.
Opta rates West Brom as favourites for the first leg at The Hawthorns, giving Albion a 41.9 per cent chance of heading down to the South Coast with a lead intact.
Corberan will be aiming to mentally move away from the struggles the team faced towards the end of the season which eventually saw them somewhat stagger over the line to secure a play-off place, as a Southampton side performed similarly in ruling themselves out of a bid for the automatics.
With seasoned Championship performer Adam Armstrong again expected to lead the line for Martin’s men, West Brom must channel their impressive defensive nous once more to book a place in the final.
In other West Brom news, new PSR changes could present a huge helping hand to the club.
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