Southampton hold on to defeat West Bromwich Albion

Southampton have recorded a 3-2 victory over West Bromwich Albion to move into 14th place in the Premier League table.

Mario Lemina, Jack Stephens and James Ward-Prowse all netted in a 15-minute period either side of half time to earn a priceless win for the Saints.

Ahmed Hegazi and Salomon Rondon got on the scoresheet for West Brom, but the Baggies are four points adrift of safety in the top-flight standings.

After tributes were made to the late Cyrille Regis, who passed away last month, West Brom - who handed a first start to Daniel Sturridge - took the lead in just the fourth minute when Hegazi headed home a Chris Brunt corner.

Southampton almost netted an immediate equaliser through Sofiane Boufal, who sent a shot marginally off target from distance, before Guido Carrillo did the same after being played in by Dusan Tadic.

Despite trailing, the visitors were the better side for much of the first half and with five minutes to go before the break, they got their reward when Lemina drilled a long-range strike past Ben Foster.

The teams appeared to be heading into half time on level terms but Jack Stephens prevented that by guiding a header into the net after meeting Ward-Prowse's corner.

Stephens has now netted three goals in three games, but it was Ward-Prowse who went from provider to scorer soon after the restart as the Englishman curled home a wonderful free kick from the edge of the box.

Southampton were in control but with 18 minutes left, the Baggies halved the deficit when Brunt contributed his second assist of the match to set up Rondon for a header.

As the game approached a conclusion, Shane Long squandered a chance to score against his former club, but Southampton were able to close out the game for head coach Mauricio Pellegrino, who has now watched his team put together a six-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-4-2): Foster; Nyom (McClean 77'), McAuley, Dawson, Hegazi; Yacob (Burke 62'), Barry, Phillips, Brunt; Sturridge (Rodriguez 62'), Rondon

SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): McCarthy; Cedric, Bertrand, Stephens, Hoedt; Romeu, Lemina; Ward-Prowse, Boufal (Hojbjerg 85'), Tadic (Redmond 88'); Carrillo (Long 75')