Baggies draw blank but still have a prayer of Wembley at Saints...
WHopefully, the Baggies will win. If they do, then it will be all the more remarkable for their manager Carlos Corberan.
EST Bromwich Albion have it all to do at St Mary’s on Friday in the second leg of their Championship semifinal-off play-off with Southampton. Sunday’s goalless first leg at The Hawthorns was disappointing for the Baggies whose strength this season has been their home form.
At least they did not lose. However, they may be facing the former Blues striker Che Adams, who is expected to be back from injury.
The previous night, Leeds host Norwich in their second leg after another 0-0 draw.
You never quite know in the Championship, but realistically you would expect it to be Leeds-southampton in the final at Wembley on May 26 with the massive winners’ prize of the Premier League.
None of the four teams have been in great form recently and that is probably why both first legs were cagey with few chances.
The heat too will have been hard but none of the four teams wanted to lose that first leg. I am sure there will be goals this week. All the games will be live on Sky Sports.
Hopefully, the Baggies will win. If they do, then it will be all the more remarkable for their manager Carlos Corberan.
The Spanish jack-in-thebox on the touchline has not spent any transfer money this season, although I am sure that will change next season with the new owner, Florida businessman Shilen Patel.
When Corberan landed the Baggies job in October 2022, they were 23rd in the Championship table. They finished just outside the playoffs. Now, in his first full season in charge, they are in them.
Two years ago, he took Huddersfield to the play-off final, which they lost controversially to Nottingham Forest. The 41-year-old has certainly improved all his squad. Fingers crossed for Friday. Albion will need to be at their very best.
Oh no! Not again. A week last Sunday, Solihull Moors lost the National League play-off final at Wembley and a place in the EFL League Two by a penalty shoot-out to Bromley.
Then, on Saturday, they did it again – losing the FA Trophy final at Wembley in a penalty shoot-out to Gateshead. Both were after extra
time. The tall Moors striker Mark Beck scored both their goals – the second to give them an extra-time lead in the 101st minute with a penalty before Gateshead striker Dajaune Brown scored an equaliser nine minutes later to take the game to penalties.
I was at Wembley and felt so sorry for chairman Darryl Eales and his director Cheryl Cooper, who have done so much in their six years with the Moors, and for manager Andy Whing.
A double kick in the whatnots! To lose a Wembley final once by a penalty shoot-out is heartbreaking, but to lose a second so quickly is too much to take.
What makes it worse is that the Moors have now lost two play-off finals for the EFL in three years.
They were only founded in July 2007 after a merger of Moor Green
and Solihull Borough and earned their place in Vanarama National League in 2016.
Now they have full-time professional players and their own training ground. I am sure they will be back in contention next season.
Wolves go to Anfield on Sunday (4pm) for Jurgen Klopp’s last match as Liverpool manager.
This will be an emotional afternoon for his supporters. The German is the longest-serving Premier League head coach – and the second-longest of all 92 Premier League and EFL managers.
He has brightened up the game with his wonderful smile (great teeth), his great personality and his engaging interviews in perfect English. Plus, those special after-match ‘punches’ in the air to the adoring Kop after yet another win!
Klopp, a familiar sight in his Liverpool baseball cap on matchdays, will be 57 on June 16. He signed for Liverpool in October 2015 replacing Brendan Rodgers.
The Kop soon took to him. His style of play included trying to regain possession immediately instead of regrouping in defence.
He called his team playing ‘heavy metal football,’ referring to their pressing and attacking play.
His honours as manager at Liverpool speak for themselves and include European Champions League winners and runners-up twice, Europa League runners-up, Premier League champions 2019-20 season (with a club-record 99 points and other records), FA Cup winners 2022, Football League Cup winners twice, 2022 and 2024, and runnersup, plus UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
He also received a lot of managerial awards and did well at his previous club Borussia Dortmund, winning the Bundesliga twice and runners-up in the UEFA Champions League final.
This season, he has taken Liverpool close in the exciting and tight Premier League title race with Manchester City and Arsenal but not quite close enough!
My book, Newbon – Bloody Hell, has been shortlisted by the Sunday Times in the entertainment section for their sports book of the year award.
This is voted by the public so if you would like to support me online please go to sportsbookawards.com
Please join me in the Sunday Mercury with my nostalgia sports column in association with Mackrell Solicitors.
This week the joy of interviewing my schoolboy hero Roger Bannister – the first person to break the fourminute barrier running the mile which made national news headlines that day May 6 1954. Amazingly, 70 years ago!