Match Pack: Saints vs Middlesbrough
Southampton are in Sky Bet Championship play-off action on Saturday afternoon as they look to progress with a win in the second leg of the semi-final at St Mary's Stadium. Get all the insight with our Match Pack...
THE MATCH
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg
St Mary's Stadium
Tuesday 12th May, 8pm BST
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Andrew Madley
Assistant Referees: Nick Hopton and Craig Taylor
Fourth Official: Tom Nield
THE KITS
Back at home, Saints will be in their traditional home strip of red and white stripes, with white shorts and white socks. Boro will be in their home kit, made up of blue and black shirts, black shorts and black socks.
TICKETS
Tickets for Southampton's second leg clash at St Mary's are sold out.
LIVE COVERAGE
UK subscription holders can watch live on Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm BST.
Saints Play match passes are available in selected overseas territories.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
These two sides met on Saturday in the first leg of the play-off semi-final and, after contrasting halves, the game ended goalless, meaning Tuesday's return leg will be a straight shootout, with the winner progressing to the final.
A place at Wembley awaits for the winner, with ultimate prize being a place in the top-flight for the 2026/27 season.
TEAM NEWS
Southampton: Jack Stephens continues his recovery from injury after missing out on Saturday's trip to Middlesbrough, whilst Kuryu Matsuki made his return after coming on off the bench in Saturday's first leg fixture.
Southampton continue to be without long-term absentees Alex McCarthy (wrist) and Mads Roerslev (knee), with both players still sidelined through injury.
Middlesbrough: Alex Bangura and midfielder Hayden Hackney are both closing in on returns from injury and could be included in the squad.
THE MANAGERS
Tonda Eckert: "I think it's not easy. It's a good team again. We came up with a clean sheet. We had our moments going forward, especially towards the end of the game, and we take all of those positives.
"We'll go all in on Tuesday. We'll have an amazing support at home. Then we need to make sure we do that step together.”
Kim Hellberg: “I think that the first half [on Saturday] is one of the best first halves I've seen in terms of playing against such a good team.
"We have lost one in 11 or 12 away games. We are strong away from home, we have scored against every team since then, and we know we're a very good team, so that'll give us a lot of confidence from the performance."
ONES TO WATCH
Ross Stewart: Having arrived from Sunderland in the summer, the striker has made a significant impact for Southampton across his 32 appearances this season.
Stewart has scored ten goals in all competitions, making him Saints' leading scorer this campaign, while also contributing three assists.
Tommy Conway: Making 49 appearances this season, Conway has provided 18 goal contributions this campaign.
The attacker proved to be a threat in Saturday's game despite not finding the back of the net, and will be looking to change his fortune on Tuesday.
TOP SCORERS
Saints
Goals:
Azaz 11
Stewart 10
Larin 9
Assists:
Scienza 10
Azaz, Fellows 8
Manning 7
Middlesbrough
Goals:
Whittaker 14
Conway 13
Strelec 8
Assists:
Hackney 8
Whittaker 7
Brittain 6
FORM GUIDE
Saints
Middlesbrough (a) SBC PO: D 0-0
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)
Middlesbrough
Southampton (h) SBC PO: D 0-0
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)
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 62
Middlesbrough wins: 25
Draws: 18
Saints wins: 19
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
May 2026: Middlesbrough 0-0 Saints Championship Play-off
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)
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