Match Pack: Middlesbrough vs Saints
Southampton are in Sky Bet Championship play-off action on Saturday afternoon as they look to get off to a positive start in the first leg of the semi-final at the Riverside Stadium. Get all the insight with our Match Pack...
THE MATCH
Middlesbrough vs Southampton
Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final first leg
Riverside Stadium
Saturday 9th May, 12.30pm BST
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Farai Hallam
Assistant Referees: Alistair Nelson and Andrew Dallison
Fourth Official: Andrew Kitchen
THE KITS
On the road, Saints will be back in their away strip of yellow and blue stripes, with blue shorts and yellow socks. The Boro will be in their home kit, made up of red shirts, red shorts and red socks.
TICKETS
Tickets for Southampton's trip to Middlesbrough are now sold out.
LIVE COVERAGE
UK subscription holders can watch live on Sky Sports Main Event from 12pm BST.
Saints Play match passes are available in selected overseas territories.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The North Yorkshire side finished the regular season in fifth place, despite spending 35 matchweeks in the top two, and will now be looking to secure the promotion that, for the majority of the season, seemed likely.
Southampton head into the play-offs unbeaten in 19 league matches after securing a fourth-place finish on the final day of the regular season.
With a trip to Wembley at stake, both sides are just two games away from the Premier League, with Southampton aiming to complete the job and secure an immediate return to the top flight.
TEAM NEWS
Middlesbrough: Alex Bangura and key midfielder Hayden Hackney are both nearing returns from injury and could be back involved.
Alan Browne will continue to be monitored after picking up a minor knock before and during Middlesbrough's clash with Wrexham, forcing him off at the break.
Saints: DuringWednesday's press conference, Tonda Eckert revealed thatJack Stephens has been training again since recovering from injury, whilst Kuryu Matsuki is also closing in on a comeback after missing recent games since the clash against Man City.
Flynn Downes also returns to contention following the completion of his three-match suspension.
Southampton continue to be without long-term absentees Alex McCarthy (wrist) and Mads Roerslev (knee), with both players still sidelined through injury.
THE MANAGERS
Kim Hellberg: "It's been fun, we're looking forward to what awaits. It's a special type of game when you play so short in between against the same team, so I'm looking forward to it.
"I think it's different for everyone in terms of how you handle [the pressure], but it's a lot of energy, and then I think it's a lot of different emotions."
Tonda Eckert: “We need to focus on the job, and not look too far behind of what has happened, not looking too far ahead so we're talking about three games, we're talking about the game coming up on Saturday.
"I think that we've been doing that quite well for weeks now, and with the amount of fixtures that have come up, we're not going to change that."
ONES TO WATCH
Morgan Whittaker: The 25-year-old has made 44 appearances this season, and has been effective when it comes to creating goals.
The winger scored 14 goals and assisted seven times so far this season and has been in good form going into Saturday's fixture.
Finn Azaz: Havingjoined from Middlesbrough in the summer, the midfielder has had an instrumental effect for Southampton in the 45 appearances this season.
Azaz has netted 11 times this season, making him Saints' highest scorer this season whilst also chipping in with eight assists.
TOP SCORERS
Middlesbrough
Goals:
Whittaker 14
Conway 13
Strelec 8
Assists:
Hackney 8
Whittaker 7
Brittain 6
Saints
Goals:
Azaz 11
Stewart 10
Larin 9
Assists:
Scienza 10
Azaz, Fellows 8
Manning 7
FORM GUIDE
Middlesbrough
Wrexham (a) SBC: D 2-2 (Conway, Strelec)
Watford (h) SBC: W 5-1 (Whittaker 2, Conway 2, Strelec)
Sheffield Wednesday (h) SBC: W 1-0 (Whittaker)
Ipswich Town (a) SBC: D 2-2 (Strelec, Conway)
Portsmouth (h) SBC: L 0-1
Saints
Preston North End (a) SBC: W 3-1 (Harwood-Bellis, Stewart, Larin)
Ipswich Town (h) SBC: D 2-2 (Manning, Larin)
Man City (n) FAC: L 1-2 (Azaz)
Bristol City (h) SBC: D 2-2 (Larin, Stewart)
Swansea (a) SBC: W 2-1 (Charles, Archer)
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 61
Middlesbrough wins: 25
Draws: 17
Saints wins: 19
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
January 2026: Middlesbrough 4-0 Saints Championship
September 2025: Saints 1-1 Middlesbrough Championship (A. Armstrong)
March 2024: Saints 1-1 Middlesbrough Championship (A. Armstrong)
September 2023: Middlesbrough 2-1 Saints Championship (A. Armstrong)
May 2017: Middlesbrough 1-2 Saints Premier League (Rodriguez, Redmond)
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