Conor Townsend reveals what first-leg did to West Brom dressing room

With second-leg hosts Southampton retaining the favourites tag, left-back Townsend, 31, said an underdog label will spur on Carlos Corberan’s dressing room.

“That is fine, we are happy being the underdogs,” Townsend said.

“If the media want to paint it that those two (Southampton and Leeds) are nailed on then fine, it does not make a difference to us. We probably use it to our advantage in the dressing room.

“We were disappointed with the 2-0 (at Southampton in November). It was probably one of our worst performances of the season. But we proved to ourselves a little bit today we are good enough to beat them.

“We can do it. Hopefully we take the confidence into Friday.”

The experienced full-back was an unused substitute is Albion’s last play-off campaign, which ended in defeat to Villa five years ago.

Southampton beat Albion twice in the regular season, a 2-1 victory at St Mary’s and 2-0 success at The Hawthorns in February.

Russell Martin’s men, who finished fourth and 12 points above the Baggies this term, are favourites to book a place at Wembley and now have home advantage in the second leg.

“Yeah, they may feel they are under a bit more pressure than we are, in terms of that,” added Townsend. “But we will go there, try to play our game and try to do what we do.”

Corberan’s side impressed in the first leg and traded clear opportunities with the Hampshire visitors, fresh from Premier League relegation last season.

Albion’s chances were the clearer, the two main openings falling to Grady Diangana in front of a boisterous crowd at The Hawthorns, as supporters made a point to welcome Corberan, the staff and players before the game.

“We started well all year here at The Hawthorns,” Townsend said. “It is one thing we have done really well. We want to put teams on the back foot.

“We didn’t manage to get a goal but as soon as we get on top you feel the crowd behind you and everything lifts. I thought it was a good performance from the team.

“There were a lot of good things and hopefully we can go down to their place and get the job done.”

Thousands of supporters lined the streets of Birmingham Road and Halford Lane a couple of hours before kick-off with flags, flares and drums whipping up an atmosphere.

“It was amazing,” said the former Scunthorpe man. “We turned in and saw there were a lot of fans, a couple of flares being let off.

“You feel it as soon as you get to the ground and see it. Everyone lifts. The whole bus lifts.

“Everyone knows what it means to the fans and to the community, what we do as a club. We felt it outside, then coming out to warm up and then play, the atmosphere was electric.

“For the first 15 minutes we were on top and you could feel the crowd behind us. It’s massive.”