Okay Yokuslu expects ‘aggressive’ Southampton in West Brom play-off clash
West Brom midfielder Okay Yokuslu believes Leeds United and Southampton have the advantage going into the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-finals.
Speaking to the club’s website ahead of facing Southampton on Friday (17 May), Yokuslu said that both the Whites and Saints will be looking to use home crowds to their advantage.
Albion and Southampton drew 0-0 on Sunday (12 May) at the Hawthorns, as did Leeds and Norwich City at Carrow Road, leaving all four sides with everything to play for in the respective second legs.
Yokuslu was wary, saying: “We’re going to face a difficult challenge in a tough stadium.
“I think Leeds and Southampton will be quite confident that they are playing the second legs at home.”
On the St. Mary’s challenge, he added: “I’m not expecting Southampton to be too different, but I think they’ll be more aggressive. The game is going to be really demanding because of the crowd, the occasion, and I’m sure they’ll try to put a lot of pressure on us.”
West Brom face tough play-off challenge at Southampton
West Brom head south to St. Mary’s with everything to play for, taking on a Saints side who finished 12 points ahead of them in the Championship table.
Yokuslu’s comments that Southampton’s home advantage could play a big part are backed up by the fact that Russell Martin’s side won 15 of their 23 matches at St. Mary’s this season, but the most recent of five home losses came in their last such game.
That 1-0 defeat occurred in the Saints’ penultimate league game of the campaign to 17th-placed Stoke, and indicates to West Brom that they are far from impregnable ahead of Friday’s match.
Albion’s recent away record is certainly no better, losing their last two matches on the road to Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday, but given that the play-offs are traditionally the great leveller, we can’t read too much into form with the second leg on the horizon.
The Baggies did have the best of the first leg, spurning a number of chances late in second half, and if they can pick up from where they left off to edge their noses in front on the South Coast, don’t be surprised to see Yokuslu marshalling the Championship’s third-best defence all the way towards Wembley for the remainder of the match.
In other West Brom news, Goodman has hit out at a “ridiculous” minority of the Albion’s fans.
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