Southampton's Martin: We have been preparing for playoff penalties

Saints take on West Brom home and away over the next week for a place in the Championship playoff final at the end of May.  

A penalty shootout will decide the finalist should the scores between the Baggies and Saints finish level after two legs. 

Saints have been awarded five penalties in the Championship this season, with Adam Armstrong scoring four from four attempts.

Argentine midfielder Charly Alcaraz, now out on loan at Juventus, chipped embarrassing over from the spot in a 4-0 win over Blackburn.

Asked about preparation for a shootout, Martin told the Daily Echo: "Yeah, I think it's come into the training for a while now.

Adam Armstrong scores from the spot during the first home match of the season (Image: PA)

"I think we've been thinking about it, the players are aware of it, we will practice it, and hope it doesn't come to that." 

Saints visit The Hawthorns in the first leg on Sunday, May 12, having beaten Carlos Corberan's side in both league fixtures this season.

Martin insists Saints will approach the match in the same way they have all season, winning 26 of their 46 league games.

"I think we're going there to try and win, and be the team we want to be," Martin insisted.

"The second leg will be influenced by what happens on Sunday but it won't be if you're losing, you need to go gung ho or if you're winning, defend it.

"We've done something for 46 games in a league that's got us 87 points, so it's been pretty good on the whole, there's been some frustration in there.

"The first and second game, regardless of scoreline, regardless of the situation, regardless of where we're playing, the challenge will always be to be us, and hopefully we can do that."