Southampton cruise to Wembley with comfortable win over West Brom

Basingstoke-born Will Smallbone opened the scoring for Saints less than five minutes into the second half after a cagey opening.

The reliable Adam Armstrong shored things up with a brilliant finish across goal just 10 minutes from time.

David Brooks should have won a penalty between the two goals for a scissored foul inside the area but Saints made sure it did not matter.

Armstrong then stepped up to bury a penalty in the closing stages to make it five from five from the spot this season.

Cedric Kipre headed in from a corner with one of the last touches of the match but it was the most mute of celebrations. 

It means Saints will take on Leeds United on Sunday, May 26, for the final Premier League place up for grabs next season. 

Saints were welcomed by thousands of fans gathered outside St Mary's in full voice and supported by various forms of pyro.

They were given a rousing speech by former Saint Mark Dennis and applauded out to warm up with a brilliant atmosphere already building.

Groundstaff had even placed Saints Foundation advertising boardings around the pitch, presumably to prevent the long throw. 

Manager Russell Martin made two changes to his team that drew 0-0 at The Hawthorns in the first leg, with Ryan Fraser and Brooks coming in.

Ryan Manning and Sekou Mara dropped out as Saints started in a four-at-the-back, although their shape was fluid throughout.

Grady Diangana, denied by Alex McCarthy on Sunday, headed wide with the game's first chance as West Brom lofted in a corner. 

Brooks was heavily involved in the first half, seeing a penalty shout for a tug inside the box go down before he fired onto the outside of the post.

The Welshman arrived onto Armstrong's low cross but later denied the number nine the return favour when he shot into a crowd with Armstrong overlapping.

The fourth official signalled for just one minute of added time in the first half as a predictably cagey affair did not offer too much. 

Saints had 71 per cent of the ball and six shots but lacked a clinical edge, but found it immediately after the break. 

Academy graduate Smallbone picked up a loose pass, played a one-two with Brooks and then thumped a strike off the inside of Alex Palmer's post.

It prompted pandemonium in the ground but Taylor Harwood-Bellis had to head clear a goalbound strike in the next attack.

Brooks was denied another penalty when Kipre scissored his ankles in the box, coming from behind to get contact on the ball. 

Armstrong had the ball in the net for the second after a first round of changes for both sides but it was swiftly ruled out for offside.

Substitute Ryan Manning wasted a dangerous free-kick, shooting over after the slickest first-time passing move of the match saw two men cut down by Albion.

Armstrong made sure with a superb left-footed finish across Palmer, rewarding Downes with the assist he deserved for a deep drive with 10 minutes left.

Adam Reach had a chance to pull one back quickly but his first-time volley with the ball travelling over his head sailed wide of Alex McCarthy's goal.

Saints went straight up the other end and won a penalty through a Tom Fellows foul on Manning after Jack Stephens played him in.

Armstrong stepped up, fired right and netted his 23rd of the campaign to put Saints into cruise control on the route to Wembley.

Kipre converted unmarked from a corner in the last of seven added minutes but that did not stop Saints fans flooding onto the pitch in celebration. 

Saints: McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Downes, Smallbone (Rothwell, 89), Aribo (Charles, 89); Brooks (Edozie, 73), Fraser (Manning, 65), A Armstrong.

Unused subs: Lumley, Bree, Kamaldeen, Mara, Stewart.

West Brom: Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Kipre, Townsend (Reach, 73), Yokuslu (M'Vila, 63), Mowatt (Weimann, 83), Fellows, Diangana (Swift, 63), Johnston, Wallace (Thomas-Asante, 63).

Unused subs: Griffiths, Ajayi, Chalobah, Phillips. 

Booked: Mowatt, Kipre, Swift.