Flynn Downes makes admission about West Brom fans ahead of Southampton second leg
Southampton midfielder Flynn Downes has described West Brom fans in last Sunday’s play-off first leg as “like an extra player”, calling on Saints fans to have the same effect on Friday.
The first leg finished goalless at The Hawthorns and is finely balanced going into Friday’s resume of battle on the South Coast as Carlos Corberan’s side chase a play-off place they are now statistically underdogs for.
Corberan will be quietly confident, and Saints’ Downes is calling on his own fans to maximise home advantage to keep Albion at bay in their quest for Wembley and the Premier League.
“Everybody says it, it’s like having an extra player on there at times,” the Southampton man told the Daily Echo.
“The crowd behind you gives you that extra bit. West Brom had that in the home leg and we weathered it. Hopefully, we can get that in the home leg on Friday.
“That game is a final and it’s at home, we will take it. We will take the clean sheet from the first leg and take it.”
Southampton’s home advantage over West Brom
Southampton boasted the fourth-highest average Championship attendance during 2023-24, with 29,373 supporters at St. Mary’s for league games; West Brom managed 24,057.
However, the gate percentages in relation to stadium capacity were closer, with Saints’ ground averagely 90.7% full and Albion’s at 89.3%.
Russell Martin will be looking for a cauldron of noise inside the stadium for the second leg, with Southampton expected to have the lion’s share of possession against Corberan’s effective Baggies defence.
The Albion boss may also have a surprise or two up his sleeve selection-wise depending on fitness checks, as they look to catch Saints on the counter and sit firm if they gain an advantage.
An early goal for West Brom on Friday will make for a hugely interesting shift in the chess match that has so far reached a mere halfway point with no suggestion of who will meet Leeds United or Norwich City in the play-off final.
In other West Brom news, Don Goodman has hit out at a section of Baggies fans for expressing this viewpoint.
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