Former EFL star Adrian Clarke has insisted that Southampton’s response against West Brom on Friday night will be a real acid test for the team.
Southampton’s 3-1 defeat at Bristol City this week ended their 25-game unbeaten run in the Championship.
A win for Leeds United at Swansea helped the Whites to leapfrog the Saints to second in the Championship standings.
Ipswich’s win at Millwall also brought them within a point of Southampton and Clarke admitted that Saints need to respond well to the defeat.
He insisted that the game against West Brom on Friday night will be the acid test for Russell Martin’s team and its result will determine if the defeat at Bristol City is only seen as a blip or something more.
Clarke said on the What The EFL Podcast: “The test for Southampton is how are they going to react to losing.
“The fact that Ipswich and Leeds producing resounding away wins kind of intensifies the pressure on Southampton moving forward.
“They really need to respond and it’s not an easy game against West Brom on Friday night.
“That will be a real acid test of Southampton’s mettle and if they come through it, it will be very much seen as a blip at Bristol City.”
Martin will hope that the defeat at Bristol City was only a minor hiccup as his side continue to push for automatic promotion to the Premier League this season.
