Sunday Express

Albion ace Tom’s no lottery player

- By Neil Moxley

WEST BROM winger Tom Fellows says there is no such thing as ‘a lottery’ in the play-offs – and called on his Baggies teammates to prove they deserve a final spot and a place in the Premier League.

Albion Academy graduate Fellows, 20, is set to play in one of the biggest games of his career so far when Southampto­n visit

The Hawthorns this afternoon, with the rematch at St Mary’s on Friday.

But as for the theory that these two match-ups are games of chance – the youngster isn’t having it.

He said: “We’ve delivered some good performanc­es this year and we’re determined to produce another couple in the two legs.

“We’ve earned the opportunit­y to play for a place at Wembley over the 46 games of the season so let’s see what happens.

“I don’t really agree with the playoffs being a lottery because I don’t think any game is ever won on luck alone.

“There are two legs, meaning we’ve got 180 minutes of action to play. After 180 minutes, the better of the two teams will usually go through to the final so we need to try to make sure we’re the better team in each match.”

The two games between the sides during the regular season were tight affairs and while Russell Martin’s

Saints had the edge in both, Fellows says this is a new competitio­n and there’s no reason Carlos Corberan’s side can’t turn those results around.

Fellows added: “Southampto­n are a very good side and they finished above us in the table.

“They like to dominate possession but I think we gave them a really good game at their place.

“At our place, they were on top for most of the match but this is the play-offs now and anything can happen.

“There’s no doubt they will be a tough opponent and it will be a challenge for us.

“But we’ll approach it with full confidence because we know we deserve this opportunit­y and we deserve to be in the play-offs.”

 ?? ?? FINE FELLOWS: Tom (left) isn’t afraid of Saints
FINE FELLOWS: Tom (left) isn’t afraid of Saints

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