West Bromwich Albion vs. Southampton: Final score 2-0, Baggies shoot up to fifth

West Bromwich Albion have posted their fifth win of the season at the Hawthorns, downing Southampton 2-0 to move up to fifth in the Premier League table. Things are looking dire for the Saints, whose defense has not improved from the beginning of the season. They're bottom of the league, five points from safety, with 18 goals conceded.

The match started very open, with decent chances on both ends, but West Brom always looked well on top. Shane Long missed a great chance with a poor effort in the 22nd minute, and Peter Odemwingie nearly put the Baggies up with a deflected shot in the 31st that was saved by Paulo Gazzaniga.

Odemwingie did better with his second big attempted on goal five minutes later, firing a powerful shot into the net to put his side up 1-0. Picking up a pass from Youssuf Mulumbu, he hit a rocket that took a deflection off Maya Yoshida before sailing into the goal.

Rickie Lambert nearly pulled the Saints level just after halftime with a stunning volley that hit the crossbar, but that would be his side's last truly great chance. In the 60th minute, Odemwingie completed a brace to give his team some extra cushion, heading in a fantastic in-swinging cross from the left flank by Long.

The Baggies brought on Romelu Lukaku for Long in the 71st minute, and his athleticism and work rate helped West Brom to stay on top of their opponents. He created a wonderful scoring chance in the 78th minute when he beat Gazzaniga to a loose ball and chipped to the back post for Chris Brunt, but his volley sailed just wide of the far post.

Adam Lallana had a decent penalty shout in the 82nd minute when Gareth McAuley gave him a shove in the penalty box, but the Southampton winger went down easily and the referee waived play on. Lallana had another solid chance in stoppage time when he got on the end of a header by Lambert, but Ben Foster was quick off his line and smothered easily to preserve West Brom's clean sheet.