Relief for Mauricio Pellegrino as Southampton won for a first Premier League game since November. Disaster for Alan Pardew as West Brom suffered a defeat that cuts them further adrift at the bottom of the table.
West Brom had wished this match would prove fitting tribute to Cyrille Regis, who was remembered movingly before kick-off in the first game at the Hawthorns since his death, but as the final whistle sounded the desperate stares by Pardew’s players told a story.
West Brom are now four points behind their nearest rival in Swansea and Pardew is dealing with an injury list that numbers seven first-team players and led to a subdued performance which drains the positivity that had accumulated in wins over Liverpool and Brighton.
James Ward-Prowse scored the best of Southamption’s treble on Saturday on their way to a crucial three points
Ward-Prowse scored the pick of the bunch for Southampton as he whipped his free kick round the West Brom wall
The Baggies surrendered a one-goal lead on their way to defeat by their relegation rivals Southampton
Manager Alan Pardew’s side are now bottom of the Premier League behind Swansea by three points
Instead it is Southampton jubilant, finally ending a deeply concerning winless run that stretched back 12 games. It was a first away victory since September. Pellegrino’s job might have been at risk with defeat here but his side are now up to 14th.
The afternoon had begun with West Brom paying tribute to Regis on the first game at the Hawthorns since his death. There were tributes from the likes of Dion Dublin, Frank Skinner, and Jason Roberts, Regis’s nephew, and it contributed to an atmosphere full of emotion.
West Brom’s players seemed to feed off the energy in a quick start and when they won a corner in the third minute the crowd let out a roar of expectation.
Chris Brunt duly utilised the whipped delivery he has in his repertoire and Ahmed Hegazi rose to head in from close range and lift the roof off. Jack Stephens protested his shirt had been pulled but in truth the Southampton defender simply lost Hegazi while watching for Brunt’s ball.
Pardew’s plans had been severely hampered by a mounting injury list that had grown to include Jonny Evans and Grzegorz Krychowiak, so getting the first goal appeared crucial.
But West Brom failed to build on the platform and Southampton began teasing out openings. Sofiane Boufal hit a clean shot just wide, and Guido Carillo missed the target with two very presentable chances.
At the other end Daniel Sturridge showed his quality by beating Stephens to Brunt’s through ball with a clever body swerve but his finish flashed over.
MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND LEAGUE TABLE
West Brom (4-4-2): Foster 6; Dawson 6.5, McAuley 6, Hegazi 6.5, Nyom 5 (McClean 77); Phillips 6.5, Barry 7, Yacob 5 (Burke 62 6), Brunt 7.5; Sturridge 6.5 (Rodriguez 62 6), Rondon 7
Subs not used: Myhill, Field, Harper, Jameson
Goals: Hegazi 4; Rondon 72
Booked: Phillips, Barry
Southampton (4-2-3-1): McCarthy 6.5; Soares 6.5, Stephens 6.5, Hoedt 7, Bertrand 7; Lemina 7.5, Romeu 7; Ward-Prowse 8, Tadic 7 (Redmond 88), Boufal 7 (Hojbjerg 85); Carillo 6 (Long 75)
Goals: Lemina 40; Stephens 43; Ward-Prowse 55
Booked: Bertrand
Subs not used: Forster, Yoshida, Davis, Gabbiadini
MoM: Ward-Prowse
Referee: Michael Oliver 7
Attendance: 25,911
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Ahmed Hegazi headed West Brom into the lead after meeting Chris Brunt’s corner.
James Ward-Prowse scored the best of Southampton’s treble with his free kick.
For more match facts from Southampton’s 3-2 victory, visit Sportsmail’s exclusive Match Zone.
West Brom supporters hold their scarves in the air in remembrance of club legend Cyrille Regis who died in January
Regis’ nephew and former Premier League striker Jason Roberts speaks in front of the home supporters before kick off
Baggies defender Ahmed Hegazi gave the home side the lead as he headed in from a corner inside four minutes
The Egyptian defender Hegazi celebrates scoring only his second goal for West Brom with the home supporters
Manager Pardew watches on as his side get off to the perfect start in Saturday’s clash at the Hawthorns
Daniel Sturridge started his second game for West Brom since joining on loan from Liverpool in January
Saints midfielder Oriol Romeu is fouled by Baggies opposition Gareth Barry before he is booked by referee Michael Oliver
Sturridge comes close to his first goal for West Brom but watches his effort fly narrowly past the post
Pardew had made a big call by replacing in-form Jay Rodriguez with his new signing and though there were neat touches it was clear that Sturridge’s match sharpness needs work. By the time Rodriguez replaced Sturridge on the hour it was clear Pardew’s decision had backfired.
At that stage Southampton were 3-1 up and looking comfortable. The visitors had equalised and gone ahead before half-time.
Their first came from a corner after Ben Foster had reacted superbly to tip round the post Carillo’s volley from Ryan Betrand’s cross. Boufal took it short and passed to Maroi Lamina, who took advantage of West Brom’s sluggish attempts to close him down by unleashing a rocket of a shot that flew into the top corner.
Two minutes before the interval Pellegrino’s side went ahead. This time James Ward-Prowse sent his corner into the middle where Stephens made up for earlier lapses by guiding a terrific glancing header into the far corner.
Saints star Mario Lemina celebrates scoring the equaliser for the visitors five minutes before half time
Lemina fired in the leveller from distance after Southampton recovered the ball from a poorly executed corner routine
Jack Stephens wheels away in celebration after completing the comeback for Southampton three minutes later
Stephens rose above the Baggies defence to head Southampton into the lead just two minutes before the break
Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino fist pumps as his side turn the game on its head with two goals before half time
Chris Brunt’s low free kick shortly after the break was destined for goal but was blocked by his own team-mates
In response, Brunt twice went close with free-kicks, his first saved well by Alex McCarthy, his second, a low hit under the Southampton wall, took a telling deflection to go wide.
Ward-Prowse then stepped up for Southampton from similar range and did the damage. He had done well to earn the right to take the kick in the first place.
When Wesley Hoedt was fouled on the edge of the area Boufal grabbed the ball, only to be told it belonged to Ward-Prowse by team mates. Boufal continued to argue before eventually being convinced by Lemina, and offering an apologetic hand to the travelling fans behind the goal.
When Ward-Prowse hit his effort low and past Foster, Boufal gave a smile as if to say ‘fair enough’ and ran to celebrate. Foster should have done better but took a fatal step to his right as Ward-Prowse made connection.
Facing catastrophe, Pardew sent on Rodriguez and Oliver Burke and his side gained hope when Salomon Rondon closed the gap with 18 minutes to play.
Brunt delivered another excellent cross from out wide and Rondon made connection with his shoulder to divert the ball in.
The atmosphere lifted and West Brom continued to press for an equaliser, James McClean being sent on for Allan Nyom. But it was Southampton who created the best chance on the break when Cedric Soares crossed for Shane Long. But the Irish striker missed badly with his header. It mattered not.
Ward-Prowse made his attempt at a free kick count though, as he whipped in Southampton’s third goal on 55 minutes
Ben Foster stretches his right shoulder as he shows his disappointment in conceding a third goal to Ward-Prowse
Salomon Rondon gave the home side hope of a revival as he headed in their second to set up a nervous finale
Rondon’s roar following his equaliser fired up his team-mates as they went in search of a late equaliser
The home side’s efforts though would not be enough as they were held off by their relegation rivals Southampton
Pellegrino will breath a sigh of relief as his side ease the pressure on him with their first league win since November