Match Pack: Middlesbrough vs Saints
Saints are on the road this weekend in the Sky Bet Championship, visiting Middlesbrough on Saturday. Get set for the trip with our Match Pack…
THE MATCH
Middlesbrough vs Saints
Sky Bet Championship
Riverside Stadium
Saturday 23rd September, 3pm BST
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Tim Robinson
Assistants: Marc Perry, Steven Meredith
Fourth official: Gavin Ward
HOW TO WATCH
International fans can watch the action on Saints Play. For more details, click below:
WHAT KIT WILL SAINTS BE WEARING?
Saints will be wearing their white and teal blue away kit, with teal shorts and teal socks.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Both sides will be looking at Saturday’s fixture with a sense of opportunity, despite a tricky run of results.
For Saints it’s all about turning the tide of defeats, having suffered three on the bounce following Tuesday night’s game against Ipswich.
Charly Alcaraz in action against Ipswich Town.
They travel to a side who’s contrasting fortunes put Russell Martin’s side’s recent form into perspective.
Middlesbrough sit bottom of the Championship without a win, having drawn two and lost five of their opening seven games.
Michael Carrick’s side showed some signs on Tuesday, coming back to rescue a point at Sheffield Wednesday thanks to Darragh Lenihan’s second half goal.
TEAM NEWS
Flynn Downes returns to contention after suffering an injury which forced him out of Tuesday’s defeat to Ipswich.
Jan Bednarek is also in line to start, having made his return from injury on Tuesday in the 56th minute.
Michael Carrick said there’s no update on the fitness of Alex Bangura and Marcus Forss, after the two missed the draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
Elsewhere defender Matt Clarke returned to action with the Under-21s on Wednesday after a long-term injury as he steps up his recovery.
THE MANAGERS
Michael Carrick: “It’s a big challenge. They’ve just come down from the Premier League and they’ve assembled, within that, a really, really strong squad individually and collectively.
“Tough game, tough challenge, but an exciting one for us to go and perform well and try and win.”
Russell Martin: "They’ve been really unfortunate, they should have more points. I really like the way they play and really admire how they did last season.
“I’m sure they’re feeling a bit frustrated and a bit wounded, just like we are. But it’s a really good test for us and one we’re looking forward to.”
TOP SCORERS
Middlesbrough
Goals:
McGree, Crooks 2
Seven players 1
Assists:
Barlaser, Silvera 2
Five players 1
Southampton
Goals:
Adam Armstrong 4
Ché Adams 3
Sam Edozie 2
Assists:
Ryan Manning 2
A Armstrong, Adams, Doyle 1
ONES TO WATCH
Hayden Hackney: In a season of lows those who have followed Middlesbrough have highlighted the 21-year-old as the bright spark.
The midfielder has been at the heart of everything positive for Carrick’s side, playing with Saint centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis for England’s Under-21s during the recent international break.
Shea Charles: The youngster has held his own in an unfamiliar position of centre back in recent weeks, covering for the injuries to Bednarek and Jack Stephens.
Now with the Pole defender returning, Charles will likely return to the midfield position where he impressed so much during the earlier stages of the season, picking up the Player of the Match award at Plymouth in August.
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 57
Middlesbrough: 17
Draw: 15
Saints: 25
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
May 2017: Middlesbrough 1-2 Saints (Rodriguez, Redmond)
December 2016: Saints 1-0 Middlesbrough (Boufal)
April 2012: Middlesbrough 2-1 Saints (Sharp)
October 2011: Saints 3-0 Middlesbrough (Do Prado x2, Connolly)
March 2005: Middlesbrough 1-3 Saints (Jakobsson, Crouch x2)
KEEP UP TO DATE
Can't make the trip up to North Yorkshire? We’ve got you covered! We’ll bring you all the behind-the-scenes content alongside the in-game action as Saints visit Middlesbrough.
Check out our interactive match centre at southamptonfc.com, with live streaming of the game, key updates and audio commentary of the match, and be sure to download the official Saints app and follow us on social media for further updates and exclusive content:
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