(Getty Images)
Follow live coverage as West Bromwich Albion face Southampton in the Championship today.
An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.
Last year Southampton, Leicester City and Leeds United were relegated from the top flight and all are hopeful of making a quick return – but the likes of Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland all have real promotion ambitions too.
At the other end of the table, QPR, Cardiff City and Birmingham City will hope for better campaigns than last year’s relegation struggle – while newcomers Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to survive after dramatic progress through the play-offs.
Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
West Bromwich Albion FC 0 – 2 Southampton FC
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
22:01
Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 0, Southampton 2.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:58
Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 0, Southampton 2.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:54
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:47
Will Smallbone (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:45
Substitution, Southampton. Kamaldeen Sulemana replaces Sékou Mara.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:45
Substitution, Southampton. Joe Rothwell replaces Stuart Armstrong.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:43
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Nathaniel Chalobah replaces Okay Yokuslu.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:41
Attempt missed. Callum Marshall (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Alex Mowatt with a cross following a corner.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:41
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Jan Bednarek.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:39
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Gavin Bazunu.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:39
Attempt saved. Okay Yokuslu (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Grady Diangana.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:39
Attempt blocked. Adam Reach (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Cédric Kipré.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:36
Goal! West Bromwich Albion 0, Southampton 2. David Brooks (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Samuel Edozie.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:32
Attempt missed. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton) header from the centre of the box following a corner.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:32
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Alex Mowatt.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:32
Attempt blocked. Samuel Edozie (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Aribo.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:32
Substitution, Southampton. David Brooks replaces Adam Armstrong.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:28
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Adam Reach replaces Mikey Johnston.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:28
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Grady Diangana replaces Jed Wallace.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:28
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Callum Marshall replaces John Swift.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:24
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Alex Mowatt.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:24
Attempt blocked. Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Samuel Edozie.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:29
Attempt missed. Sékou Mara (Southampton) header from very close range following a corner.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:23
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Darnell Furlong.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:23
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:23
Substitution, Southampton. Joe Aribo replaces Shea Charles.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:23
Substitution, Southampton. Samuel Edozie replaces Ryan Fraser.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:21
Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Tom Fellows is caught offside.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:21
Attempt blocked. Alex Mowatt (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by John Swift.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:21
Attempt missed. John Swift (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:18
Will Smallbone (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:17
Foul by Will Smallbone (Southampton).
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:16
Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Jed Wallace is caught offside.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:14
Foul by Will Smallbone (Southampton).
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:14
Attempt saved. Sékou Mara (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jan Bednarek with a headed pass.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:14
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Erik Pieters.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:14
Okay Yokuslu (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:11
Ryan Fraser (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:07
Second Half begins West Bromwich Albion 0, Southampton 1.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
21:07
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Tom Fellows replaces Brandon Thomas-Asante.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:51
First Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 0, Southampton 1.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:51
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Jack Stephens.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:51
Attempt blocked. Okay Yokuslu (West Bromwich Albion) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Mowatt with a cross.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:51
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Jack Stephens.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:51
Attempt blocked. Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mikey Johnston with a cross.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:48
Brandon Thomas-Asante (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:48
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:45
Attempt missed. John Swift (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:45
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Stuart Armstrong.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:37
Adam Armstrong (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:37
Attempt blocked. Okay Yokuslu (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jed Wallace.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:36
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Stuart Armstrong.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:34
Offside, Southampton. Adam Armstrong is caught offside.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:30
Attempt missed. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:26
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Okay Yokuslu.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:26
Attempt blocked. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Shea Charles.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:24
Foul by Adam Armstrong (Southampton).
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:21
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by John Swift.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:21
Attempt blocked. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong with a cross.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:21
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Alex Palmer.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:17
Goal! West Bromwich Albion 0, Southampton 1. Ryan Fraser (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box following a corner.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:17
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Darnell Furlong.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:17
Attempt blocked. Ryan Fraser (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Will Smallbone.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:13
Foul by Adam Armstrong (Southampton).
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:12
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:12
Delay in match (Southampton).
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:12
Attempt saved. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sékou Mara.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:12
Foul by Shea Charles (Southampton).
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:12
Ryan Fraser (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:12
Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion).
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:08
Attempt missed. Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:06
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Darnell Furlong.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:04
Shea Charles (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
20:03
First Half begins.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
19:30
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton
19:00
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