Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of this afternoon's Premier League clash between West Bromwich Albion and Southampton at The Hawthorns. Let's get straight to the team news...

West Bromwich Albion XI: Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Brunt; Gardner, Fletcher, Yacob, McManaman; Lambert, Rondon

West Bromwich Albion subs: Lindegaard, Olsson, Chester, Morrison, McClean, Gnabry, Berahino

Southampton XI: Stekelenburg, Cedric, Fonte, van Dijk, Targett; Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, S. Davis, Rodriguez, Tadic; Pelle

Southampton subs: K. Davis, Yoshida, Long, Mane, Romeu, Juanmi, Caulker

So the big news for the home side is that Saido Berahino is only named among the West Brom substitutes after his deadline day exploits on Twitter. The club have been quick to assure everyone that the outburst is behind everyone, but Tony Pulis is going to need Berahino's goals this season.

It will be interesting to see how the home fans react if we see the England Under-21 striker at any point this afternoon. Though the man that has taken his place this season, Salomon Rondon, has won the Baggies supporters over pretty quickly with his impressive start to the season.

Tony Pulis' side come into today's encounter having recorded their first Premier League win of the season against nine-man Stoke City a fortnight ago, where Rondon scored the winner. Can he get among the goals again this afternoon?

The other big news for the Baggies is that new signing Jonny Evans makes his debut, lining up alongside Craig Dawson, Gareth McAuley and the fit again Chris Brunt. However fellow new recruit Anders Lindegaard - formerly of Manchester United - joins Berhino on the bench.

And here is Evans speaking to the media in the tunnel ahead of his debut:

Jonny Evans speaks to overseas' broadcasters ahead of his full debut for #WBA pic.twitter.com/GBDxIv0FSV

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBAFCofficial) September 12, 2015

So what about the visitors? Well Ronald Koeman's team come into today's game riding high on the back off consecutive Premier League wins, most recently against Norwich City, where a brace from Dusan Tadic and a Graziano Pelle strike gave them a 3-0 win over newly promoted Norwich City.

The Saints endured a fair bit of drama in the closing days of the transfer window themselves, with speculation linking midfielder Victor Wanyama with a move to Tottenham Hotspur right until deadline day. The former Celtic man remains on the south coast, and starts in today.

There's a new recruit in Koeman's starting lineup though, and it's another former Celtic man. Virgil van Dijk had been linked with a move to the Premier League for some time, before the deal was finally wrapped up on deadline day. The Dutch international makes his debut alongside Jose Fonte this afternoon.

Sadio Mane, who has scored in four of his last five Premier League starts, is only named among Koeman's substitutes after enduring long-haul flights while away on international duty with Senegal during the international break.

Mane might be in fine goalscoring form, but the record books don't suggest we're in for a particularly high-scoring affair at The Hawthorns this afternoon. In fact, the last four games between the sides have produced just three goals.

It's going to be a big afternoon for Rickie Lambert. The former England international, who came up from League One all the way to the Premier League with the Saints, lines up against his old side this afternoon. Southampton's only goal in their five Premier League games away to West Brom came in 2013, courtesy of a Lambert penalty.

If Lambert can fire West Brom to victory this afternoon, it would be the club's first back-to-back Premier League wins under Tony Pulis. The last time they recorded consecutive league victories was in September 2014, when they beat Tottenham and then Burnley.

The Saints, meanwhile, will be reliant on their big man up front, Graziano Pelle. The Italian international netted for his country last week, but just two of his Premier League goals for Southampton have come away from home.

Ronald Koeman, speaking to the press ahead of today's game, has admitted his side are aware of the threat West Brom pose. "They [West Brom] always have good organisation. They like to play a little bit more defensive than we usually do, that's their way of playing," he said. "You have to respect that but it makes it more difficult because it can be 10 men behind the ball. They don't give a lot of space."

"It means you have to be good in your football, your ball possession and the most important is your final pass has to be good. We have to improve that. It's always different if you score first or they score first. If they score first they can do what they want and that's defending the result."

Tony Pulis, meanwhile, has understandably been forced to comment on Berahino ahead of kickoff. "I have no problems at all, he could play on Saturday," he said, though he is only among the substitutes this afternoon.

"My big issue with Saido is he is immature at times in the way he reacts. Something he has done in the two windows since I've been here, his reaction has not been sensible. But I'm more concerned with getting Saido getting back playing football." You wouldn't bet against Berahino scoring a late winner, here would you?

Prediction! Well, since we're about 15 minutes away from kickoff, lets have a prediction. With both teams going into this game off the back of a win, confidence will no doubt be high. I expect it to be a tight encounter, but Koeman has the quality in his ranks to nick the victory here, so I'm going to stick my neck out and say Southampton to win 2-1.

There's even more comment and insight into this afternoon's clash from the Sports Mole sofa here:

Not long now folks!

The two teams have returned to their dressing rooms following their pre-match warm-ups #WBA #SaintsFC — West Bromwich Albion (@WBAFCofficial) September 12, 2015

It's a big afternoon for both teams. A win would carry the Saints close to the top four, while the Baggies will be eager to pull away from the drop zone after getting grabbing their first win of the season. There's players making debuts at the back in Van Dijk and Evans, and plenty of headlines at the other end of the pitch with Lambert facing his old club, and Berahino on the bench. This should be a cracker, so stick around. Kickoff is just minutes away.

The players are in the tunnel, the fans are in good voice. Here we go...

Stuart Attwell is the man in the middle for today's game, and he leads the sides out onto the pitch.

KICKOFF! The home side get us under way!

Craig Gardner bursts down the left early on, tangling with Cedric Soares. No foul is given and the West Brom man gathers the ball and delivers a cross towards Callum McManaman that drifts out of play. There's concern for Saints fans though as Soares is slow to get up.

Soares is up but he's not moving particularly well. Southampton keep the ball well in front of the Baggies box, before Tadic swings a cross in from the right that Pelle surges towards at the near post. The Italian striker slides in and throws a leg out at the ball, but can't quite turn it goalwards.

Another Tadic cross from the right is comfortably claimed by Boaz Myhill in the West Brom goal. The visitors have started brightly here.

The Saints have got the Baggies penned deep in their own half early on. Tadic is looking very lively, constantly moving in search of the ball. This time he picks out James Ward-Prowse whose cross is headed away by Gareth McAuley. Good, fast-paced opening here at The Hawthorns.

McManaman draws a free kick from Matt Targett 30 yards from goal. Darren Fletcher takes it quickly, much to the home fans' annoyance as Jonny Evans had been sent forward, and Saints are quickly out to it. clearing the danger.

West Brom win the ball again and McManaman drives down the right. The winger wins a corner, which he fires low across the edge of the box, but there's no Baggies man there and Southampton hack the ball away.

Tadic pops up on the left this time, exchanging passes with Jay Rodriguez before drilling a 20-yard effort towards goal, but it's blocked by a West Brom defender.

Craig Dawson breaks forward from right-back for the Baggies, but his drilled cross into Rondon has far too much behind it and the striker simply can't bring the ball under control. Frustrating for the Venezuelan striker.

Both sides will be fairly happy with the opening 14 minutes. Southampton have had more of the ball, but neither side has created much.

Big, big moment here for Stuart Attwell. Rickie Lambert sends Callum McManaman clear down the right and the winger closes in on goal. Matt Targett is the only man who can cover, and he just reaches McManaman before he can pull the trigger, but he slides in wildly on the West Brom man and he goes tumbling. The home fans are screaming for a penalty, but the referee signals a goal kick. Tony Pulis is livid.

It's not clear from replays whether or not Targett gets any of the ball. It's a wild tackle, but if he's got the ball that's some superb defending. The atmosphere has gone up a notch at The Hawthorns. Pulis is prowling the touchline.

Tadic plays Soares in down the Southampton right, but his cross is nodded away for a corner. Pulis still won't sit down, but he is placated slightly as Evans rises highest and confidently heads the set piece away. It's an assured opening 20 minutes of his debut from the ex-Manchester United defender.

Brunt catches Tadic out on the touchline and Atwell signals a free kick. There's no booking, but Tadic is slow to get up.

Tadic is back on his feet and swings the free kick into the box, which Rondon, back on defensive duty, heads behind for a corner. Tadic runs across to take it to boos from the Baggies fans. His set piece is then punted clear by Dawson.

Still no real chances at either end at The Hawthorns. The Targett tackle on McManaman remains the major talking point. I've seen a dozen replays and I'm still not certain. Who'd be a referee, eh?

CHANCE! McManaman wins a corner which Brunt steps up and swings in with that wonderful left foot of his. It's aimed towards the back post where Dawson is piling in unmarked, but he slightly mistimes his run and has to readjust to make his header, which he can only send over the bar.

Just as we've had our first real goalscoring opportunity, it's all gone a bit quiet. West Brom are happy to stand off and left the Saints have the ball in midfield.

Pelle tries to flick the ball beyond Evans on the edge of the box but the Brom defender gets in the way. Pelle and the Southampton fans are convinced its handball, but Atwell waves play on and the Baggies break up the left flank, winning a corner.

The corner is whipped into the near post and Stekelenburg goes down under the challenge of Dawson. Everyone stops anticipating a free kick, but the whistle never comes, and after a moment's indecision the Saints hurriedly clear.

CHANCE! Jay Rodriguez collects the ball wide on the Southampton left and sets off towards goal. He's jostled by a couple of Baggies defenders, but stays on his feet and strikes an effort from the edge of the area. He's off balance though and it trickles harmlessly to Boaz Myhill, who makes the first save of the match. He won't have many easier than that.

CHANCE! Well that's the best chance of the game. Tadic swings a cross in from the right and Jay Rodriguez times his run across the face of goal perfectly, meeting the ball in front of the stranded Myhill, but from six yards out the Southampton man can only nod inches wide of goal, when he really should have scored.

Oh dear. Brunt and Gardner get in each other's way as the Baggies look to carve something out on the edge of the Southampton box.

Both sides give the ball away as things turn a bit sloppy at The Hawthorns. I think everyone is waiting for half time here, except Stuart Attwell, who is probably going to be posed a few questions from Tony Pulis about that penalty incident.

Oh dear, oh dear. This is even worse than the Gardner / Brunt incident of a few minutes past. Lambert robs Pelle in midfield and sends Rondon away, but the big striker trips over the ball and lands flat on his face. Not his finest moment.

Two minutes added on here.

Well it's not been the greatest 45 minutes of football at The Hawthorns, with little action in front of goal. There's no doubt about the major talking point though. On another day Matt Targett's tackle on Callum McManaman could have resulted in a penalty, but not today.

Pulis will no doubt think it was a foul, but equally I'm sure Koeman will be certain his man got the ball. It really did look close. © Getty Images

It's not just The Hawthorns where goals are at a premium. Looking around the Premier League grounds, Theo Walcott has put Arsenal ahead against Stoke City, and Norwich City lead Bournemouth 1-0 thanks to Cameron Jerome's goal, but everything else remains 0-0.

The hosts came closest when Dawson headed Brunt's corner narrowly over the top of goal, but otherwise they've not offered much going forwards. Lambert has worked hard and picked out a few key passes, but by and large he's been forced to operate far deeper than Pulis would like. Rondon has looked off the pace so far, too, perhaps feeling the effects of what has been a fairly gruelling international break for the Venezuelan.

The visitors, meanwhile, will probably be quite happy with their first half performance. They moved the ball well in spells, with Tadic a constant livewire, and Rodriguez really should have put his side ahead with his close-range header shortly before half time.

The stats don't lie though, and each side has only managed a solitary shot on target. The game has been played at a good pace and there's no shortage of endeavour, but it's lacking a bit of quality in the final third.

The players are back out for the second half...

RESTART! Southampton get us back up and running

Tadic tricks his way past Brunt and into the Baggies box, but instead of shooting he tries to go back around the left-back. However, Brunt doesn't fall for the same trick twice and slides in and robs the Saints man. Tadic should have got a shot off then.

This time Tadic beats Yacob on the outside and hangs a high cross up to the back post, but there's not a Southampton man within five yards of the back post. Lovely footwork from Tadic there, but he's not picked the right option.

Saido Berahino - remember him? - gets some instructions from the West Brom coaches and he's off to warm up.

It's mostly cheers as Berahino faces the Baggies fans, but there's certainly a few boos mixed in there too.

Wanyama picks a fine pass to Tadic on the right, but Brunt is quick to the Saints man and concedes a corner. Ward-Proswe takes it but it evades everyone. It's sent back in from the opposite flank and Wanyama rises to meet it, but heads it straight at Dawson. It strikes his arm, and there's some half-hearted appeals for a penalty, bur Attwell instantly dismisses them.

CHANCE! Rondon has a great chance, but scoops his effort high over the bar. It was a laboured effort from the Baggies front man.

SUBSTITUTION! Saido Berahino is sent on to replace Rickie Lambert to cries of "There's only one Rickie Lambert"... from the Southampton fans.

Stekelenburg makes a meal of claiming an otherwise harmless West Brom free kick, almost palming the ball over his own line as Gareth McAuley lay in wait, but the Saints goalkeeper recovers to spare his blushes.

SUBSTITUTION! Berahino flicks the ball wide to Callum McManaman who skips inside and curls an effort wide of goal. It's his last action of the game as James McClean is sent on in his place.

Strange decision on the face of it, that. McManaman had been West Brom's most attacking player in the hour we've had here.

Southampton have slowed this right down, keeping the ball in midfield as West Brom sit back and let them have it. When the Saints do look to move forward it's Tadic they look for, but Brunt muscles him off the ball.

CHANCE! Well, half chance. Steven Davis quickly plays Pelle in and the Italian striker pulls wide, before curling an inviting ball across the face of goal that is just beyond the reach Rodriguez. Tadic collects it at the back post, but West Brom are back in numbers and the attack breaks down.

Pelle tees up Ward-Prowse on the edge of the area, who strikes an effort towards goal. It clearly takes a deflection off a Baggies defender, but a goal kick is given.

SUBSTITUTION! Sadio Mane comes on for Jay Rodriguez

Tadic, who has moved to the left since the introduction of Mane, scurries down the left and aims a cross at Mane at the back post, but the new arrival can't make contact. Meanwhile, Pelle has a problem and we have a delay while he receives some treatment.

Pelle is back on his feet, but he looks a bit sluggish as he tries to latch onto a lofted pass over the top from Davis, and Myhill is quickly out to claim the loose ball.

Tadic must have had twice the number of touches of the next most involved player here. Here's involved with everything, but try as he might he can't create anything of note for the Saints. This time he swings a cross into the box, but Pelle can't get off the ground to challenge for it.
© Getty Images

Mane, with time on the edge of the box after collecting Myhill's weak goal kick, fires an effort at goal, but it sails harmlessly wide.

SUBSTITUTION! Maya Yoshida comes on at right-back for Cedric Soares.

Berahino combines with Rondon as West Brom surge forwards, but he can only fire a shot at the legs of a Southampton defender.

BOOKING! Chris Brunt picks up the first yellow card off the game for taking a swipe at Sadio Mane.

We're into the final 10 minutes here at The Hawthorns and it's hard to see either side finding a winner. Myhill's save from McManaman in the first half is the only save of any note I can recall. Both sides have worked hard, but there's been very little quality on show in front of goal.

Jonny Evans, who has been solid on his Baggies debut, is down and receiving some treatment. Tony Pulis had been about to send James Morrison on, but it appears the knock to Evans has caused a rethink.

Evans stays on, for now. Tadic arcs another cross into the box - his umpteenth of the afternoon - but like all the others, it comes to nothing.

SUBSTITUTION! Nope, that's Jonny Evans' West Brom debut over as he hobbles off for Jonas Olsson.

CHANCE! Darren Fletcher gives the ball away to Pelle in his own box, gifting the Saints striker a superb chance, but he fires lamely at Myhill. That sums up the game, really.

The Baggies fans are filing out of The Hawthorns as Gardner blasts an effort a long way wide of goal.

Pelle flicks a smart pass round the back of the West Brom line and it looks like Mane is away, but he takes a tumble seemingly under the challenge of the last man. It looked dramatic, and Stuart Attwell isn't convinced, telling the Saints substitute to pick himself up.

We have an extra four minutes to play

Stuart Attwell blows his whistle and both sets of players trudge off the pitch after a fairly uninspiring goalless draw at The Hawthorns.

A point a piece is decent return for both sides, though. Looking for positives, the Saints moved the ball well and Tadic was lively, while Van Dijk was composed - if largely untested - on his debut. West Brom fans, meanwhile, saw the return to action of Saido Berahino, and a solid performance from new man Jonny Evans.

So, that's all from this match for now, but stick around for post-match reaction, analysis and player ratings. For now, though, I'll leave you with the match report, and thank you for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.