Carlos Corberan's feelings on "equal" West Brom and Southampton play-off draw and 'emotional' atmosphere

The sides shared two or three goalscoring opportunities on a baking day at The Hawthorns, where the backdrop and occasion was a highlight for the Baggies boss.

Grady Diangana forced saves from Alex McCarthy with a first-half header and tame second-half strike, while Darnell Furlong prodded just wide. Home goalkeeper Alex Palmer saved from Flynn Downes and impressively kept out substitute Ross Stewart's deflected effort.

Corberan said: "Very equal, very balanced, a very tough game, as you can expect when we are fighting with four teams to go to the Premier League – the best league in the world, you can only expect tough and difficult challenges. The key is you need to enjoy beating the difficulty and challenge.

"I think in general probably we created similar type of chances.

"My feeling is in the first 20 minutes we were better than them, in the first 15 or 20 of the second half they were better than us.

"After those minutes both of us adapted better offensively and defensively to the other team. It was a very equal game."

Asked if his side might regret not taking one of those chances ahead of the second leg on the road, the head coach said: "You are always going to have the feeling (of regret) when you had any opportunity you could have scored.

"But at the same time Alex made a couple of saves too when they had opportunities. Maybe 0-0 doesn't reflect the game we played, probably 1-1, or 2-2, or if you have more accuracy than the opponent, both teams could've unbalanced the game (and won)."

Once again a packed-out Hawthorns upped the ante in the stands as supporters answered the head coach's plea for a booming atmosphere, with US owner Shilen Patel among those watching on.

Hundreds of supporters lined the streets of Birmingham Road and Halfords Lane as the team coach arrived a couple of hours ahead of kick-off to deafening chants, flags and pyros.

"I like how the team has competed today," Corberan added. "I enjoyed a lot how the atmosphere was that our fans created today.

"All these things today has helped a lot to not lose the game, the first time we didn't lose in 90 minutes against Southampton, so it means we have given a positive step.

"(The atmosphere was) The best one I have had as a coach in my career, without any type of doubt. The way they received us was outstanding.

"And the support, in every single second of the game, they supported the team and backed us all of the 99 minutes of the game – incredible support that doesn't deserve less from us than the level we put in.

"I didn't expect any type of receiving (of the bus) today and it has been a very emotional moment for everyone, for all of us."