Baggies manager Corberan exposes the hidden arts utilized by Saints to achieve a slight edge.
WEST Brom manager Carlos Corberan criticized Southampton’s use of the dark arts to seek an advantage in Friday night’s playoff semi-final.
Following a 0-0 draw in the first leg, the Saints won 3-1 at St Mary’s due to a Will Smallbone goal and an Adam Armstrong brace.
The Spaniard said that the Baggies squad bus was delayed in arriving at St Mary’s Stadium owing to the pre-game chaos outside.
The visitors’ effective long throws were also impeded by Saints’ new advertising boards erected closer to the pitch.
Corberan commented after the game, “Southampton has a very talented offensive coach.
“He’s certainly one of the greatest I know in England, and they’re very excellent players, but they did things they definitely shouldn’t have.
“They didn’t need to narrow the pitch to get the outcome they did today because they play fantastic attacking football.
“I was quite startled. In football, doing everything inside the rules is fair. If they need more or less, it is up to everyone to decide.
“We put water on the pitch. The difference was that the game was played at 2:15pm in a temperature that is unusual for this country.
“You cannot put water on the pitch during the first half when the referee calls a timeout to drink water.
“I always want to play the greatest football in the best possible conditions. I never wish to make the grass taller or longer.
“Unfortunately, the circumstances of our field differ from those of Southampton’s pitch since we were unable to invest in it financially during the previous two years.
“I believe that if they are doing it because we did it, it is a mistake; you may do it if you want, but we just want to play in the greatest conditions.
“I believe they outperformed us in the game, particularly in terms of attacking. That is why they are in the final at Wembley; they earned it since they outperformed us.”
Corberan continued, “I believe the manner we arrived at the stadium today was not the best approach.
“We waited on the bus for 15 minutes to find the stadium entrance. I’m not sure why no one came to rescue us or following standard procedures.
“I didn’t expect it and I don’t think it should have happened,” he maintained.
“One team wanted to come 90 minutes before the game; we arrived 95 minutes before the game, but we could only access to the dressing room 75 minutes before the game.
“It isn’t an excuse – we didn’t lose because we arrived later than I wanted to arrive – but I think the level of protocol in this type of finals should be to the level of football.”
According to the Daily Echo, CEO Phil Parsons and Sport Republic’s Mark Bitcon came up with the ingenious idea of placing boardings near the pitch.
EFL regulations require teams to allow 2 metres of space between the touchline and the nearest barrier.
The Saints made tweaks to barely slightly exceed the required amount, which limited Darnell Furling’s long throws.
