Southampton and West Bromwich Albion remain winless this season in the Premier League having played out a goalless draw at St Mary's.
The Saints looked particularly lively in the first-half through Dusan Tadic, although the summer signing failed to beat Ben Foster with his close-range effort 10 minutes before the interval.
West Brom created the best opening of the second half through substitute Brown Ideye, but Fraser Forster rushed out to deny the striker when he was played through on goal.
Read how the match unfolded below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Southampton and West Bromwich Albion at St Mary's Stadium. Both sides will be looking to register their first victory of the new season, as managers Alan Irvine and Ronald Koeman continue to integrate their own style and philosophy on their respective teams.
West Brom kicked off their campaign with a 2-2 home draw against Sunderland last weekend, while Southampton put in a brave but ultimately futile showing against Liverpool in a 2-1 reverse at Anfield.
It is far too early to describe any game at this stage of the season as being 'must win', although following a rather disrupted pre-season for both outfits, three points today would make the world of difference. Kick off at St Mary's this afternoon is a little over 50 minutes away, so let's bring you some team news...
TEAM NEWS!
Southampton XI: Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Bertrand, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Ward-Prowse, S. Davis, Tadic, Pelle
West Brom XI: Foster, Wisdom, Dawson, Olsson, Pocognoli, Mulumbu, Gardner, Berahino, Dorrans, Brunt, Anichebe
So the hosts name an unchanged side for today's clash, with Graziano Pelle leading the line. Shane Long has to make due with a place among the substitutes, meanwhile, as Koeman prepared for his first home game in charge of the Saints.
West Brom's Saido Berahino currently leads the Premier League goalscoring charts at this early stage following his brace against Sunderland, and he starts for the Baggies behind Victor Anichebe. New signing Georgios Samaras is not included in the squad after completing his move to the club 24 hours ago.
A lovely playing surface awaits both sets of players this afternoon on the South Coast.
BENCH WATCH!
Southampton: K. Davis, Gardos, Long, Taider, Cork, Hooiveld, Isgrove
West Brom: Myhill, McAuley, Davidson, Ideye, Sessegnon, Yacob, Baird
Confirmation of the two benches then, with Brown Ideye still not quite match fit by the looks of things. It's a similar story for Stephane Sessegnon who is also among the substitutes for the visiting side. Joleon Lescott is still not available for West Brom, but Gareth McAuley has recovered from his own setback to be named in today's squad.
Speaking ahead of today's game, West Brom manager Alan Irvine praised Southampton for their showing against Liverpool last time out, saying that he felt the Saints deserved something out of the game.
"I was really impressed with how they played at Anfield. Not many teams go to Anfield and make it go quiet – but that certainly happened during periods of the game. They deserved something out of the game and I believe it will be a tough place for anyone to go this season."
Irvine also hailed Koeman's spending this summer, having seen the core of his side leave for pastures new. One of the new men, Dusan Tadic, looked one of Southampton's livelier players against Liverpool. His flicked pass for Nathaniel Clyne's goal should come as no real surprise - he's now bagged three assists in his last three competitive games.
In this fixture last season, Southampton recorded a 1-0 win over the Midlands outfit courtesy of Adam Lallana's second half strike. In fact, the Saints also won the reverse fixture by the same scoreline a few months early thanks to Rickie Lambert. Both players are now, of course, playing in Liverpool colours.
The bad omens don't stop there for West Brom I'm afraid, because incredibly they have never won an away game in the Premier League in the month of August. Can that stat come to an end today at the expense of Southampton?
PREDICTION! It's never easy to predict scorelines at this stage of the season, but based on what we saw at Anfield last Sunday, I think the Saints will bag a 2-0 victory today.
Kick off is now a little over 20 minutes away at St Mary's, so why not check out what the Sports Mole team make of today's contest:
Last season was truly one to remember for Southampton supporters. Under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino, the South Coast club finished in eighth place in the Premier League, although success came at a cost. An exodus of certain star players begun almost as soon as the full-time whistle on the final day blew, with Pochettino himself moving to Tottenham Hotspur.
Some pundits predicted Southampton to be in a real relegation battle this season, although with some smart signings and a solid manager in Ronald Koeman, a year of mediocrity possibly awaits. West Brom on the other hand survived the drop by the skin of their teeth, and they too have rung the changes this summer. A new manager, new players and potentially a new philosophy to look forward to for Baggies supporters.
The wait is almost over...
UPDATE! Aston Villa and Newcastle United have played out a goalless draw at Villa Park in the day's early kick off in the Premier League. Too early to conclude anything from that, of course, although both are likely to be among the small group of sides in midtable this term.
Incidentally, reports emerged earlier today linking Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama with a move to Arsenal once more. The Kenya international is a key component for the Saints, and Koeman is likely to remain firm.
For a large part of the summer it looked as though Jose Fonte would also be on his way out of the St Mary's exit door, with Cardiff City strongly linked with the defender. The 30-year-old remains at the club, though, and he captains his side this afternoon.
So a big afternoon for both sides today at St Mary's, with three points on the line. It would make the world of difference at this stage of the campaign with momentum a key factor. Kick off is now just two minutes away, and the teams are out onto the field.
KICKOFF! West Brom get the game underway.
PENALTY APPEAL! With a little over two minutes on the clock West Brom striker Chris Brunt is bundles over inside the area, but referee Roger East waves play on. Brunt brushed himself down to whip in a cross which Anichebe flicked wide.
In between those two incidents, Tadic worked some space out on the right-hand side and swung a cross into the box which passed everyone by. He will be a key player for Southampton today.
Berahino concedes a foul out wide, which Tadic crosses into the box once more to no avail. The ball finds its way back to the summer signing, and this time there is a teammate on the end of it inside the danger zone, but Pelle heads wide.
No real chances in these opening 10 minutes in what is an evenly-contested start to the game. Following that missed headed attempt from Pelle, West Brom worked possession well to win a corner, but nothing more came of it.
It's clear to see just how Tadic racks up so many assists. The Serbian crosses into the box first time after being picked out on the right, although once more there's nobody to pick out. Southampton are looking to work the ball out wide before finding Pelle in the middle - they've had little success so far, but law of averages suggests that it will eventually pay off.
CHANCE! Andre Wisdom finds Graham Dorrans inside the opposition box, but his subsequent effort is brilliantly blocked by Fonte to cut out the danger.
Sebastien Pocognoli has been down for the last couple of minutes following a collision with Pelle. Jason Davidson may be brought on in the coming minutes.
Pocognoli has shaked off the knock and is back on... for now, at least. Meanwhile, Dorrans looks to pick out Anichebe in the middle with his cross, but Fraser Forster easily catches the ball.
Much like Tadic, Pocognoli is looking to get the ball into the box first time. He's linking up well with Dorrans down the left, much like Southampton's duo on the opposite flank. Good flow to the game, but still no breakthrough.
Anichebe is limping along at the moment following a collision earlier in the game. He's one of West Brom's more important players in his lone-forward role today.
Again Irvine's side link up down the left, and once more the cross into the box is captured by Fortser with ease.
CHANCE! Tadic picks out Pelle, who in turn sees his effort blocked by Jonas Olsson inside the box. Not the easiest of chances, but certainly one of the better in the first 30 minutes or so.
CHANCE! Southampton are turning up the heat now, and it was very nearly a howler from Ben Foster. The England keeper rushed out of his box and was caught in no man's land as Tadic knocked it beyond him. The wideman opted not to shoot from the tight angle, but instead loft a ball to the middle where Pelle awaited, but the ball sailed narrowly over the striker's head.
SAVE! Well Foster has made up for that earlier clanger. That man Tadic is again the focal point, being played in on goal after Berahino's clearance was closed down, but his shot from close range was well kept out by Foster down to his right.
Southampton whip a free kick into the box from the left, and Schneiderlin is the man who gets on the end of it. He can only head the ball into the ground and wide, though, with the half-chance going begging.
Berahino surges down the wing and manages to find teammate Anichebe who has drifted out to the right. The former Everton striker flicks the ball around the corner but Berahino slows his run and fails to get on the end of it inside the box. Good link up play which was almost identical to Southampton's goal at Anfield last weekend.
YELLOW CARD! Brunt is shown the first card of the afternoon for kicking the ball into the stands in frustration.
The hosts are knocking the ball around well in the middle, but can't find a way through. Tadic has now moved over to the opposite flank to link up with Clyne.
HALF TIME: Southampton 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
So goalless at half time then, and in truth there has been little in the way of opportunities so far. That's not to say it's been a boring first 45 minutes at St Mary's, but both sides have struggled to work a way through.
The star man so far has been Tadic, who is constantly whipping balls into the box from both sides of the field, yet striker Pelle has so far failed to make them count. It's a similar story for the away side, with Dorrans, Brunt and Pocognoli all looking lively in wide areas.
BENCH WATCH!
Southampton: K. Davis, Gardos, Long, Taider, Cork, Hooiveld, Isgrove
West Brom: Myhill, McAuley, Davidson, Ideye, Sessegnon, Yacob, Baird
The two stand-out names among the substitutes are of course Shane Long and Brown Ideye. Each made a big money move to their respective teams this summer, and we'll surely see them around the hour mark this afternoon.
Foster's stop on 36 minutes from Tadic's close-range strike was by far the biggest opening of the first half. What will the second half provide? The teams are back on the field.
SUBSTITUTION! Long has been brought on at the start of the second half in place of Steven Davis. Another target for Tadic to pick out.
SECOND HALF! We're back underway at St Mary's.
Anichebe looks as though his afternoon is over. He was limping heavily during the first half, and Ideye is now warming up on the sidelines.
WEST BROM SUBSTITUTION! Confirmation of that substitution - Anichebe replaced by Ideye.
Well I did say Long would add an extra threat from Tadic's crosses, and it almost paid off less than 10 minutes after his introduction. The Serbian picked out his teammate but Long could only head over.
SHOT! Tadic, sick of crossing the ball now, opts to try his luck from range with a rather tame effort. Foster makes light work of collecting the effort down low.
CHANCE! West Brom's best chance yet, and it came down the likely route. Pogocnoli whips in a ball to the back post, and Ideye almost bag a goal on his debut, but he heads into the side-netting. The travelling supporters thought it was in.
Long finds himself in possession on the edge of the opposition area, but he bizarrely passes the ball straight to the hands of Forster. I can only assume that he thought Tadic would run on to it.
SOUTHAMPTON SUBSTITUTION! Before that opportunity, Pocognoli had to leave the field in place of Davidson. He's been one of his side's main men down the flank this afternoon, but injury has got the better of him.
Davidson does well just minutes after coming on. He drifts into the middle from his full-back berth, and after a quick one-two he is brought down to win his side a free kick. Craig Gardner opts to shoot from 30 yards, but the ball takes a touch off the wall where Forster is waiting to collect it.
YELLOW CARD! Incidentally, Clyne was booked for that challenge on Gardner to level up the cautions this afternoon.
SHOT! Long turns provider for Tadic this time, chesting the ball down for his teammate who smashes the ball narrowly wide on the half-volley from 25 yards.
OFF THE POST! James Ward-Prowse has been fairly quiet this afternoon, but his free kick from 25 yards out left Foster beat with the post coming to the Baggies rescue.
CHANCE! A goal is surely coming?! The biggest chance of the game so far falls to substitute Ideye, who took Dorrans' pass brilliantly to find himself in on goal, but Forster rushed out to deny the striker.
The visitors win their fourth corner of the match, but much the same as their previous three, it comes to nothing.
SOUTHAMPTON SUBSTITUTION! Jack Cork is brought on in place of Ward-Prowse with 13 minutes of the game remaining.
YELLOW CARD! If only goals were as easy to come by as yellow cards. Gardner is the next man in the book following his challenge on Cork.
The game has slowed down over the last few minutes, with no real opportunities for either side. Still eight minutes remaining to find a winner.
We're heading for a goalless draw. The game seems to be being played in the middle of the field now. One more roll of the dice, perhaps?
WEST BROM SUBSTITUTION! Irvine has opted to make a late change, with Sessegnon replacing Berahino.
CHANCE! Well maybe the game isn't dead and buried after all? Dorrans looks to thread the ball to Ideye, but Forster reads it well and races out to smother the ball.
Late corner for West Brom is headed away at the front post. Brunt gets the chance to whip it in once more, but over hits his cross by some distance.
FULL TIME: Southampton 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
I had high hopes for this game, but it has finished goalless with neither side able to find a way through. Tadic looked particularly lively for the home side in the first half, but the second 45 minutes passed him by somewhat, while West Brom created the best opening following the interval through substitute Ideye.
It means of course that both teams remain winless this season, but it was always going to take a few games for Irvine and Koeman to get up and running in the Premier League. Plenty to work on for both teams in the coming week ahead of the next set of fixtures.
Thank you for following the game on Sports Mole. Stick around to read a full match report from St Mary's, as well as player ratings and a match summary.
