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Police make arrests as more footage emerges of incidents at Southampton v West Brom

Police make arrests as more footage emerges of incidents at Southampton v West Brom which marred the Championship playoff semi final.

Three individuals were taken into custody following the altercations that occurred following the second leg at St Mary’s Stadium on Friday evening.

After the final whistle, with Southampton winning 3-1 on aggregate and securing a spot at Wembley to face Leeds, a number of Southampton supporters stormed the pitch to celebrate.

Nevertheless, a group of fans made their way over to the away end full of West Brom fans and goaded them.

A statement by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary says: “The vast majority of fans attending the Southampton v West Brom match yesterday evening, both at the stadium itself and in venues around the city, did so responsibly and respectfully.

“There were, however, a minority of contingent of fans from both clubs who sought to engage in public order offences, including entering the pitch during the match.

“A 27 year old man, and a 26 year old man from Southampton were arrested on suspicion of going onto the playing area of a football match and a 24 year old man from Southampton was arrested on suspicion of using threatening, abusive, insulting words, behaviour to cause harassment, alarm, distress, common assault of an emergency worker and obstructing or resisting a constable in execution of duty.”

Speaking afterwards, Southampton boss Russell Martin said: ‘I haven’t seen it (the scenes following the pitch invasion) but I think it’s unnecessary and I’m pretty sure it will be a real, real minority.

‘Our fans were amazing tonight. For those who did do that, if it tarnishes the night we’ve had and the win we’ve had and getting to Wembley in any way then they’ve let themselves down.

‘But hopefully it was really very few people and hopefully the majority had a brilliant night, and they were great. Tonight was a beautiful moment for us. But we have the chance to have the biggest and best, an even better moment next week so we have to make sure that’s the case.’

On the game, he told Sky Sports Football: “The players were amazing. I’m really proud of them. In the first half we were good, in the second half they were incredible. They freed up a little bit. We made some tweaks to things and they carried it out so well.

“Some of the football was amazing. We were up against a really good team and a top coach in Carlos. But in the end I feel like we got what we deserved.

“Now we have to get there [promotion] for it to mean anything. It all leads into the big one. If we can play with the same courage and intensity as tonight we’ll give ourselves a chance. It’s one we can enjoy tonight and be a bit relieved. But then it’s about getting ready.

“When the fans sing his name I feel emotional for Will [Smallbone]. He’s so desperate to play for his club. It’s his club. He’s had some tough moments in his short career so far.

“He’s an amazing human being, and watching him grow this season has been one of the biggest privileges so far of my managerial career. He’s been so important for us. He’s selfless, he’s a brilliant team-mate and he’s growing in importance all the time.

“He has the capability to be a really top player and I’m proud of him.”

West Brom manager Carlos Corberan on Sky Sports Football: “Unfortunately we couldn’t avoid some of the losing of the ball and we conceded the goal from this situation. In general, it’s not just this situation; I don’t think the team felt as comfortable when we weren’t with the ball. We didn’t attack at the level we wanted to attack.

“When these things happen and there is a good team in front of you, you will suffer because good teams use mistakes well.

“Now is the moment to feel the pain. This is the feeling we all have because we had the motivation to go to Wembley. We didn’t want it just to be the play-offs, but it didn’t happen. Now is the moment to finish this season and, from tomorrow, we will start the next one.”

This is how Twitter users reacted as police make arrests after more footage emerges of incidents at Southampton v West Brom…

@AaacccccCcc: Respect to your players coming over. Level of stewarding there is disgraceful.

@samgeorgeody: How on earth has that been allowed to happen – shocking from Southampton stewards to not have a plan in place – also pathetic from the fans giving it the biggun when they’re gonna get battered by Leeds in the final 😂

@OAA905: Disgusting from Southampton stewards this. Completely left our players out to dry there. Disgraceful

@F1redbull98: Our stewards should be doing better.

@elliotwade_: Kipre just standing there breaks my heart man

@ChrisBlaylockDJ: That’s very classy from the Albion players to risk their safety to thank you for the support. Good luck next season (Preston fan)

@aaronjames85: Awful stewarding from Southampton! And all those clowns giving it ‘big un’ needing to be ‘held back’ should of been grabbed by scruff of neck and lobbed towards West Brom fans! One of many reasons I couldn’t be a steward. Be sacked on first day 🤣🤣

@leedeetee: Not sure how this happened?! There was a wall of stewards and loads of police stood behind them at ER last night. These wet wipes just run on like it’s a school game?

@ajm1991_:
You’ve got to be an absolute melt to
1. Invade a pitch
2. Taunt the away fans whilst doing it
3. Not allowing your own players to celebrate with you

@AndRusso_16: Imagine your team gets to the final and the first thing you think about and do is invade the pitch, go to bother the WBA players thanking their fans (and minding their own business) and celebrate in front of them. All of this instead of just enjoying the moment #LUFC

@Allaccessalbion: Our manager and players risked their safety to come and applaud us , thank you @CarlosCorberan and @WBA players 👏🏼👏🏼🤍💙

@JoshLUFC17: Ban then from Wembley, embarrassing bunch @EFL

@chrisblakey51: Shame Southampton fans can’t stop being pricks. Just enjoy. Stop bothering the losers #tw*ts

@DannyBoyW180: Good to see the @SouthamptonFC stewards being absolutely useless C**ts protecting our players…..

@ASmithSJ: Disgrace this from the stewards. Not saying they would have been able to stop the pitch invasion but at least try to do something rather than just standing like statues while the players are swarmed. Do you just turn up, get handed a hi-viz and told to stand still?

@electrodecay: Big up those that did risk it all but those stewards need sacking did fuck all to stop their fans surrounding our players

@RenoldSolo: @SouthamptonFC ban the lot dont deserve to goto wembley, fucking useless stewards too

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