Southampton's Maya Yoshida (L) and Jose Fonte (2nd R) challenge West Bromwich Albion's Billy Jones (2nd L) and Jonas Ollsson during their EPL match in West Bromwich, central England, Monday. — Reuters LONDON — Peter Odemwingie struck twice to help West Bromwich Albion continue its bright start to the season with a comfortable 2-0 win over bottom club Southampton Monday that lifted it to fifth in the Premier League. Striker Odemwingie's shot after 36 minutes opened the home side's account and the Nigerian added a second on the hour mark when he headed in an inviting Shane Long cross from close range. West Brom has 17 points from 10 matches, level with fourth-placed Everton and seven points behind leader Manchester United. Southampton has collected four points, the same number as winless Queens Park Rangers, and is bottom due to its inferior goal difference. West Brom has let points slip in its last two league matches against champion Manchester City and Newcastle United by conceding late goals but there were no mistakes this time against a Southampton side short on confidence. Zoltan Gera spurned a great chance after 20 minutes when an Odemwingie shot went straight into his path but his touch from the six-yard line sent the ball sailing over the bar. After Odemwingie's opener which flicked off Maya Yoshida and flew past unsighted goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, Southampton was unlucky not to equalize courtesy of Rickie Lambert's neat snap shot that crashed against the crossbar early in the second half. West Brom keeper Ben Foster made a good save to deny Southampton in stoppage time but that was as close as the visitors got on another tough night for the struggling south coast club. In contrast, Odemwingie was delighted with his team's showing after West Brom's late defeats by City and Newcastle. “This was a good response from a good team. We needed a bit of luck and it is simple, if you keep shooting you will score, we are happy with the three points,” Odemwingie told Sky Sports. United to honor Ferguson Manchester United will commemorate manager Alex Ferguson's 26th year in charge of the team by unveiling a statue of the Scot this month, the Premier League leader said in a statement. The statue will be uncovered at Old Trafford on Nov. 23, the day before United play Queens Park Rangers, the same opponent as in the 70-year-old's first home match in charge on Nov. 22, 1986. Ferguson is Britain's most successful club manager having led United to 12 Premier League titles, two European Cups, five FA Cups and four League Cups. He was previously in charge of Scotland's Aberdeen, taking it to the European Cup Winners Cup title in 1983 by beating Real Madrid in the final. The statue will be positioned near the entrance to the stand named in Ferguson's honor last year. — Agencies
