Cyle Larin denies struggling West Brom overdue win as Southampton salvage draw

Cyle Larin’s last-minute equaliser rescued Southampton a point from a 1-1 draw at West Brom and denied the relegation-threatened Baggies a first Sky Bet Championship victory of 2026.

West Brom have not triumphed in the league since beating QPR on December 28 and Larin’s late leveller ensured their winless run extended to 13 matches, keeping them in the relegation zone.

Leicester’s win on Tuesday meant the home side needed to respond after they started the night in the bottom three and Jayson Molumby scored his second goal of the season to give the Baggies a deserved half-time lead.

It took a while for the Saints, who reached the FA Cup quarter-finals at the weekend, to wake up but Larin proved to be the hero with a stoppage-time header which extended Saints’ unbeaten run to nine matches.

Southampton have not had many off nights under Tonda Eckert but they missed the chance to close the gap on the Championship play-off places to just a point.

The hosts quickly defied the form book by going hard in pursuit of the opener, Aune Heggebo denied a first goal since December when his header from a long throw was tipped over the bar by Daniel Peretz.

Southampton were beginning to settle into their rhythm after half an hour, Leo Scienza looking dangerous down the left and, following a tricky run, he sent ball into the middle only for Ross Stewart to head into the arms of Max O’Leary.

O’Leary was brought into action again to deal with Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ headed flick-on as it looked like Southampton were starting to gain the upper hand.

But West Brom hit the front in the last minute of the first period.

Daryl Dike showed great hunger to get his head to a pair of headers in the box. His first one was stopped by Peretz before the second one bounced the way of Molumby who bundled home from inside the six-yard box.

Saints immediately looked for a route back into the contest and were given a free-kick at the edge of the box which Ryan Manning curled into the grateful arms of O’Leary.

The Hawthorns crowd responded to a positive performance and it gave the relegation battlers a newfound sense of confidence, Isaac Price having a go from distance which was easily collected by Peretz.

The hosts did not rest on their laurels and were constantly searching for a second, with Jed Wallace putting a ball into the box and Dike heading it goalward as Peretz just about managed to keep the chance out.

But as the rare win was looking more realistic, West Brom sat deeper and Southampton punished them.

Just as Eckert’s men were running out of time, substitute Samuel Edozie flung in a teasing ball which Larin nodded goalwards and it bounced off bar and post before trickling past O’Leary.