After a scoreless draw at the Hawthorns in their play-off semi-final first leg against Southampton, West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan has delivered a harsh warning to the Saints.
Given that the Baggies could not capitalize on their home leg, there is undoubtedly work to be done by them in the second leg.
The draw in the midlands raised the stakes for both teams even more, but it was still likely that everything would come down to the second tie game at St Mary’s.
A distinct situation arises in English domestic football during the play-offs. Except in post-season action, you almost never face the same team again in less than a week.
Corberan wants to make the most of this, since it provides the coaches with the finest opportunity to prepare for their opponents.
Southampton receives a combative message from Carlos Corberan
The Spanish manager has declared that he will take full advantage of the interval between two games.
Corberan told the Daily Echo, “Normally I have 15 minutes to prepare the second half, now I have four days.” “Let’s use them in the best way to prepare as best we can.”
The former manager of Huddersfield Town went on to discuss the performance of his squad and the energy created by the home supporters on this sweltering day at the Hawthorns.
“It was a very equal, very balanced, very tough game as you can expect when four teams are vying to become the best league in the world, the Premier League,” he stated.
“You must be prepared for demanding and challenging tasks. The secret is to relish the challenge’s level of difficulty.
“It’s likely that both teams generated comparable opportunities overall. We were superior to them in the opening twenty minutes, in my opinion.
“In the first fifteen to twenty minutes of the second half, they outperformed us. Following that, both teams improved their offensive and defensive adjustments to the teams.
“The outcome of any team’s performance on Sunday would have affected the second leg, but it wouldn’t have determined who advances to the next round.
“I enjoy the team’s competitiveness. I was taking in the mood that our supporters had produced. Combined, these factors have prevented the game from being lost.
Corberan went on, “We have made progress because this was the first time we have defeated Southampton in ninety minutes.
“Set pieces are something we need to analyse and consider because we had a lot of opportunities that we could have done better from.
“Maybe the 0-0 scoreline doesn’t reflect the game that we have played, probably 1-1 or 2-2 (would be better).
“The challenge that we are going to play on Friday is probably going to be the strongest one we have faced this season.”
West Brom should take confidence from semi-final first leg
The two semi-finals on Sunday both ended without a goal being scored, which was the first time that this has happened since 2011, but the game between the Baggies and the Saints was a much more entertaining one, with chances for both teams.
Grady Diangana had good chances in both halves to put West Brom ahead, but his efforts were repelled by Alex McCarthy.
There are, of course, areas to be worked on ahead of the second leg, as Corberan alluded to. But, even though they will be the underdogs, West Brom showed that they have enough bite to cause a few scares for the Saints.
