U21 Report: Saints 2-1 Middlesbrough

All three goals came in the first-half, with Saints taking a two-goal lead through Brandon Charles and Nick Oyekunle strikes.

Middlesbrough responded via Rio Patterson-Powell just before half-time, but Saints defended well to hold on in the second-half and could have extended their advantage late on when Will Merry forced a good save.

The first opportunity of the game came for Saints in the when a lofted ball found Sufianu Sillah Dibaga in the box, and his setup saw Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh flash a left-footed strike narrowly wide of the far post.

Saints had made a positive start to the contest and soon broke deadlock when quick feet from Charles on the right saw him cut inside and sneak a shot in at the near post.

Middlesbrough looked to respond quickly and forced a save from Saints goalkeeper Hugo Fisher when Layton Campbell broke in behind and saw his shot turned wide.

Brandon Charles scores the opener. (Photos: Craig Hobbs)

The visitors then went close twice in quick succession when striker Campbell clipped the outside of the post with a fierce free kick, and George McCormick was then denied by a superb block on the goal line by Joachim Kayi Sanda.

However, Saints doubled their lead with their next attack when, after receiving the ball from Rohart-Brown, Oyekunle dispatched a bouncing ball expertly across goal and into the far corner.

A lively first-half was not done there though, as Middlesbrough forced a way back into the game shortly before half-time when a low cross along the six-yard line was finished by Patterson-Powell at the back post.

Both sides knew the next goal was going to be crucial as the second-half started in an even fashion; Saints came close to a third goal when substitute Merry worked space and drove a dangerous ball across the box, that nobody could connect with at the back post.

Middlesbrough then went close to an equaliser on 66 minutes when Oliver Samuels controlled and fizzed a half-volley goalwards, but it flew just wide.

Nick Oyekunle (L) celebrates another PL2 goal.

Saints had to fight hard as the game moved towards its conclusion, with a lot of testing Middlesbrough deliveries into the box to deal with.

Adam Lallana’s side almost wrapped up their win when Moses Sesay’s low drive from just inside the penalty area forced a smart low save from Boro's Shea Connor.

With seven minutes added at the end, Merry had a golden opportunity to round off the win for Saints when he stole the ball and broke beyond the backline, but his eventual shot was well smothered.

Saints secured their victory though, and are next in action on Friday 27th February when they host Everton in Premier League 2, with kick off at Staplewood set for 1pm.

Saints: Fisher, Okunola, Dobson-Ventura (c), Kayi Sanda, Sesay, Williams (Daley 73'), O'Brien-Whitmarsh, Rohart-Brown (Kakay 73'), Charles (Merry 54'), Sillah Dibaga (Gathercole 54'), Oyekunle.

Subs not used: Adjei-Afriyie.

Goals: Charles (23'),Oyekunke (37')

Yellow cards: Sesay, O'Brien-Whitmarsh.

Middlesbrough: Connor, Lewis, Samuels, James, Baptiste, Daley, Patterson-Powell, Johnson, Campbell, Coulson (Kakai 81'), McCormick (c).

Subs not used: Wilson, Acheampong, Hinneh, Fisher.

Goals: Patterson-Powell (42')

Yellow cards: Daley, Johnson, Coulson, Samuels.

Referee: Aji Ajibola.