The play-offs have been the talk of the EFL in the last week, with Southampton’s semi-final with West Brom no different.
The Championship did not throw up any classic play-off games in the first legs, with Norwich City and Leeds United drawing 0-0 on Sunday before Saints and West Brom played out the same result.
Southampton will likely be the happier of the two sides in their tie given the second game will be at St Mary’s on Friday night.
Home advantage could be key to Southampton progressing to the final on 26th May, but whichever manager gets it right tactically will find themselves in a Wembley dugout in two weeks.
Part of this comes down to the players selected and former Arsenal and Southend United player Adrian Clarke expressed his disbelief that manager Russell Martin did not start one Southampton player in particular in the first leg.
Adrian Clarke cannot believe David Brooks did not start v West Brom
The members of the What The EFL?! podcast were discussing all the latest goings on within the Football League, with the play-offs understandably the biggest talking point.
Clarke appeared on the show alongside fellow former footballer Sam Parkin and spoke on how he is unsure about Southampton’s recent change in shape given the success they have had playing 4-3-3, before expressing his shock at a player who has been left out.
Clarke said: “I thought the team was just a little bit weird. I don’t know how David Brooks doesn’t get in the starting XI.”
“I think he’s absolute class and he would be in my team. I think maybe the fact that it was a 3-5-2 means he gets biffed off.
“For me, I wouldn’t be biffing Brooks off to change the system, personally. I just think he’s a cracking player.”
Russell Martin could change formation for second leg
It is true that Brooks is a victim of the change in shape that Martin first sprung in the final game of the regular Championship season against Leeds.
Given Southampton performed so well as they won 2-1 that day, it was difficult for the Saints boss to then change again for the first game of the play-offs.
However, with Southampton now the home side and having secured a clean sheet at The Hawthorns, it would not come as a surprise if Friday night is when Martin decides to revert to his favoured system as he looks to take the game to West Brom.
- READ MORE: Southampton boss Russell Martin already knows one formation tweak he must make v West Brom
This does not necessary guarantee a return to the starting line up for Brooks, though, as the Welsh loanee has been disappointing when he has played of late and has not scored in his last 12 matches.
It could be that Ryan Fraser is instead chosen to come into the side, replacing one of the defenders who started away from home.