Mason’s got a Hol lotta love
Smallbone 5, A Armstrong 79
SOUTHAMPTON boss Russell Martin hailed a super show from Mason Holgate.
Goals from Will Smallbone and captain Adam Armstrong made it 20 points from eight games for in-form Saints.
But Martin praised Holgate – standing in for suspended Jan Bednarek – and summer buy Ross Stewart, clocking his first minutes as a sub after injury.
Martin said: “West Brom are one of the best teams we have played and in the end we had to dig in. The momentum swung to them after our goal.
“I was trying to get three subs on when they scored but then it swung back to us.
“Mason has had to wait for his opportunity but he gave a quality performance. And it was a big moment for Ross.”
Martin’s team took the lead after five minutes when Stuart Armstrong pulled the ball back to Adam Armstrong, but his shot was saved by Alex Palmer.
The rebound fell to Smallbone and though Conor Townsend tried to clear, goalline technology ruled it in.
West Brom equalised when Brandon Thomas-asante headed against the woodwork and centre-back Kyle Bartley bundled the ball home.
Darnell Furlong headed against the bar but then sub Ryan Fraser’s cross found Adam Armstrong and the captain finished in style.
Baggies boss Carlos Corberan said: “In a way I was pleased with the way we played in the second half but it is only about the result.” SOUTHAMPTON: Bazunu 7; Walker-peters 7, Harwood-bellis 7, Holgate 7, Bree 7 (Manning (66) 6); Downes 6 (Charles (66) 6); S Armstrong 7, Smallbone 7 (Fraser (54) 6), Alcaraz 7, Kamaldeen 6 (Adams (66) 6); A Armstrong 7 (Stewart (83) 6) WEST BROM: Palmer 6; Furlong 6, Bartley 6 (Ajayi (82) 6), Kipre 6, Townsend 6; Yokuslu 6 (Molumby (82) 6), Chalobah 5 (Mowatt (56) 6); Diangana 6; J Wallace 7 (Sarmiento (81) 6), Phillips 6 (Fellows (82) 6); Thomas-asante 6 STAR MAN: Adam Armstrong – Another tireless display of running from the Saints captain, capped with a precious winner.
Tom Nield 7