West Brom 2 Southampton 0: Odemwingie double piles pressure on Adkins

PUBLISHED: 16:50 EST, 5 November 2012 | UPDATED: 17:00 EST, 5 November 2012

Peter Odemwingie increased the pressure on Southampton boss Nigel Adkins as his two goals propelled West Brom into fifth spot in the Barclays Premier League.

Adkins' side remain rooted to the foot of the table after a fifth successive away defeat and they have now conceded 28 goals in 10 league matches.

But these are halcyon days for the Baggies and they bounced back from heartbreaking injury time defeats against Manchester City and Newcastle thanks to a goal in each half from Odemwingie.

Peter the Great: Odemwingie was the man of the hour for West Brom

MATCH FACTS

West Brom: Foster, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Mulumbu, Yacob, Odemwingie (Fortune 83), Gera, Dorrans (Brunt 65), Long (Lukaku 71).

Subs not used: Myhill, Popov, Rosenberg, Tamas.

Booked: Jones.

Goals: Odemwingie 36, 60.

Southampton: Gazzaniga, Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Fox (Shaw 82), Schneiderlin, Steven Davis, Ramirez (Mayuka 76), Lallana, Rodriguez (Do Prado 76), Lambert.

Subs not used: Kelvin Davis, Hooiveld, Ward-Prowse, Puncheon.

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

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It was their fifth victory in six home matches and, although not at their best, they still contained too much firepower for the Saints.

Odemwingie and the tireless Shane Long posed plenty of problems up front while Youssouf Mulumbu bossed the midfield department.

Albion fans taunted Adkins, who has led Southampton to successive promotions, with chants of 'you're getting sacked in the morning'.

And, although the visitors showed plenty of promise in spells, their leaky defence is undermining their attacking threat.

Southampton axed keeper Artur Boruc who has been the subject of a club investigation after allegedly throwing a water bottle into the crowd during the home league game with Tottenham.

Albion began positively and a fine pass from Odemwingie picked out the run of Long into the Saints box.

But the Baggies leading scorer opted to cut the ball back across the danger area rather than shoot.

Billy Jones became the first player to be yellow carded after 10 minutes for a high challenge which caught the back of Southampton skipper Adam Lallana.

High hopes: Southampton keeper Gazzaniga rises to clear a cross

Rickie Lambert had the first attempt on goal and his low drive from a narrow angle contained plenty of power but was held onto by West Brom keeper Ben Foster.

Albion retaliated and a low shot from Odemwingie took a deflection off Zoltan Gera and flew over the Saints crossbar.

The home side started to look more threatening and it needed a last ditch tackle from Morgan Schneiderlin to deny Long after Jonas Olsson had headed a Graham Dorrans free-kick back across goal.

Eyes on the ball: Jay Rodriguez (left) competes with Youssuf Mulumbu

Odemwingie flashed a low 25 yard shot inches wide in a swift Albion counter-attack after Foster had gathered Lambert's header from a Gaston Ramirez centre.

But the Nigeria international broke the deadlock in controversial fashion in the 36th minute.

The impressive Mulumbu released Odemwingie whose left-footed shot contained plenty of power but took a deflection off Maya Yoshida as it flew past Saints keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

Swooping to pounce: Odemwingie heads home the second

But TV replays also showed that Odemwingie had appeared to handle the ball in the build-up.

Gazzaniga did well to block a close range effort from Long and Albion appealed in vain for a penalty for handball when Schneiderlin blocked the follow-up attempt from Odemwingie.

Southampton started the second half on the offensive and a shot on the turn from Lambert struck the bar with Foster well beaten.

Under pressure: Adkins could be heading for the exit door at St Mary's

Foster cut out a dangerous cross from Daniel Fox as the visitors pressed for an equaliser.

But after 60 minutes Odemwingie doubled Albion's lead with a clinical finish.

Left-back Liam Ridgewell's long pass found Long who held the ball up, cut inside and floated over an inviting centre which Odemwingie headed home from close range.

Midfield tussle: Morgan Schneiderlin (left) is closed down by West Brom's Argentine midfielder Claudio Yacob

The Baggies could have increased their lead with skipper Chris Brunt volleying just wide at close range from a cross by fellow substitute Romelu Lukaku.

Yoshida headed just wide in a late Southampton rally but Albion held on for a comfortable win.

Boing, boing: The Baggies are up to fifth

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Comments (10)

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I watched this match because i enjoy English Monday Night Football. I have to say, West Bromich Albion are always recognised in some parts of Europe, as an old underdog force from England, So very well done for being 5th. I would be very interested in watching the WBA in the Europa league against the likes of Werder Bremen, Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburg next season and good luck to them. Reports here in Dortmund say Klopp has had his scouts keep an eye on a WBA winger called James Morrison in the past few weeks. So this must mean WBA are pulling some good talents out.

- Hochum , Dortmund, Germany, 05/11/2012 23:44

Click to rate Rating 2

I've never really had any particular affinity towards Southampton, but over the last couple of years I was really hoping they would get out of the mire and back into the top flight, mostly due to nostalgia as they were one of the mainstays of the top-flight during the early years of my life, and to see them do it in such stunning fashion under Nigel Adkins stewardship has been superb stuff. And now, seeing them struggling is really disappointing as they blatantly don't deserve it. After the early performances against United and City, I think that, like many, I had high hopes that Saints would stay up, but it's looking increasingly likely that they will go down. I posted on an article the other day that Adkins deserves to stay at the club due to his immense achievement, and I hope Saints fans think likewise, because he is a brilliant man and a brilliant manager. I hope they are still in contention in January, as they really need to improve their defence. If they do that, they'll survive

- Stevie , Manchester, 05/11/2012 23:38

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An inexplicable falling apart of Southampton this season, who played with zero confidence. Such a difference from last year in the Championship. Fair play to the Baggies - they always looked more dangerous.

- Salgirl , England, 05/11/2012 23:04

Click to rate Rating 8

The magic that is West Bromwich Albion FC. I support and love a debt free British owned football club that's 5th in the Premiership with a pedigree and history to be proud of. The futures bright the futures blue and white

- doctor albion , Dorset, 05/11/2012 22:59

Click to rate Rating 16

Nigel Atkins might want to spend less time in the tanning salon and more time on preparing his team.

- Amar , London, United Kingdom, 05/11/2012 22:57

Click to rate Rating 2

Man of the match, Mulumbu by a mile, Pete took his second goal well after a fantastic cross from Long, brilliant, it could not have been better. West Brom do look strong at home, very organised an best of all, 8 points above the Villa.

- Marc , W Midlands, United Kingdom, 05/11/2012 22:39

Click to rate Rating 13

Last week and the week before we're sad, Newcastle devastating because of how we played and how late the goals were, BUT, I ALWAYS WILL LOVE WEST BROMWICH ALBION. I think my blood is even blue and white. :D I suppose Southampton will feel a bit aggrieved ?

- JLS&&WBA...RuLe; , dudlayyy ;p, 05/11/2012 22:21

Click to rate Rating 15

Like the Saints but see them going down year. Hope not though. COME ON YOU SAINTS

- Dylan , London, 05/11/2012 22:13

Click to rate Rating 13

Roy Hodgson touted as the best in the business never managed 5th place at a time when the Premiership was at its weakest. Good riddance. West Brom much better for it.

- Hunglikeshire , Beckton London, 05/11/2012 22:08

Click to rate Rating 7

I just feel sorry for the saints.

- Michael , London, 05/11/2012 22:07

Click to rate Rating 13

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