Middlesbrough

Image source, Opta

Southampton and Middlesbrough's promotion destiny will be decided when they meet at St Mary's in the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final on Tuesday (20:00 BST).

The sides played out a goalless draw in the first leg at The Riverside on Saturday and extra-time and penalties may be needed to determine which side progresses to the final at Wembley on 23 May to face either Millwall or Hull City, who play their second leg at The Den on Monday night.

• Southampton are winless in each of their past five matches in all competitions against Middlesbrough (D3 L2) since doing the league double over them in the Premier League in 2016-17 (1-0 at home, 2-1 away).

• In all competitions under Tonda Eckert, Southampton have lost only once at home – a 1-2 loss to Hull City in January – winning 13 of the other 18 matches (D5); their past two games at St Mary's have finished 2-2 against Bristol City and Ipswich Town in April.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten in each of their past six away games in all competitions, all coming in the Championship (W2 D4), drawing each of their past four on the road, with the past three all ending 2-2.

• For only the third time in second tier play-off history, both first leg semi-final ties finished goalless, though Middlesbrough's xG in the first leg (1.82) was more than the other three sides combined (1.63).

• Southampton are aiming to reach the Championship play-off final for the second time, and first time since 2024, earning promotion with a 1-0 win over Leeds United after also finishing that campaign in fourth place.

• Middlesbrough are looking to reach the Championship play-off final for the first time since losing the 2015 final 2-0 to Norwich City; they've been eliminated in both play-off semi-final appearances since in 2018 and 2023, though drew both of their away legs 0-0 on those occasions.

• Southampton goalkeeper, Daniel Peretz, made four saves in the first leg against Middlesbrough; in the regular season only Carl Rushworth (7.72) and Radek Vítek (7.15) prevented more goals based on Opta's expected goals model than his 6.48 (18 goals conceded excluding own goals, 24.48 expected goals on target conceded).

• Middlesbrough's Matt Targett created more chances than anyone else across both first-leg ties of this season's Championship semi-final play-offs (4), all of which came from open play. Indeed, in the regular Championship season, the only defender to create more chances from open play than Targett (44) was Jay Dasilva (46).

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Middlesbrough captain Dael Fry remains full of confidence ahead of the return leg of the Championship play-off semi-final with Southampton.

The tie is goalless after the first match at the Riverside in which Boro could not capitalise on an excellent first half display as they peppered the Saints goal with 17 shots to the visitors' zero.

The match was more even after half-time but Fry has full belief that Kim Hellberg's team can produce what is required at St Mary's on Tuesday night (20:00 BST), as they have only lost one of their last 10 away matches.

"I'm proud of the lads," the defender told BBC Radio Tees. "I thought we were fantastic.

"Going there on Tuesday, we're full of confidence. Our away form this season has been really good and I'm fully confident we can go there and get a result."

There was a special atmosphere at the Riverside, with things fuelled by the spying allegations levelled at Southampton.

The Boro coach was greeted by thousands of fans as it arrived at the ground, a special moment for local boy Fry.

"I was blown away," he said. "Today made me proud to be from Teesside.

"I was welling up on the bus. If anyone had started speaking to me, I think I would have started crying."

Image source, Opta

Middlesbrough welcome Southampton for the Championship play-off semi-final first leg on Saturday lunchtime (kick-off 12:30 BST).

Boro won just two of their final 10 games in the regular season (D5 L3) to miss out on automatic promotion but can still reach the Premier League for the first time in nine years.

Saints were unbeaten in their last 19 league games to climb from 15th to fourth as they look to bounce straight back to the top flight.

• Middlesbrough have won their past two home games against Southampton, including a 4-0 league win in January. They've never won three in a row at home against Saints in all competitions.

• Having won four of their five meetings with Middlesbrough between 2005 and 2017 (L1), Southampton are now winless in their previous four against them (D2 L2).

• Middlesbrough were promoted to the top-flight via the play-offs in the second ever season they came into play (1987-88), beating Chelsea over two legs. Since then, they've been in the second tier play-offs four times without success, reaching the final only once (2014-15).

• This is Southampton's third appearance in the Championship play-offs, losing to Derby in the 2006-07 semi-final before beating Leeds in the final at Wembley in 2023-24.

• In their five previous Football League play-off campaigns, Middlesbrough have won the first leg of their semi-final tie only once (D2 L2), winning 2-1 at Brentford in 2014-15.

• Southampton come into this game unbeaten in their final 19 Championship games (W14 D5). Only in 2023-24 have they had a longer run without defeat in the league (22), eventually getting promoted via the play-offs in that campaign.

• Middlesbrough's past 11 goals in the regular Championship season were scored by either Tommy Conway (5), Morgan Whittaker (3) or David Strelec (3).

• Cyle Larin has been involved in six goals in his past six starts for Southampton in all competitions, scoring in each of his previous five (1 assist).

Will momentum play a key role in deciding which teams meet at Wembley in the Championship play-off final on Saturday, 23 May?

Southampton enter the play-offs in the strongest form, unbeaten in the league since 17 January and accumulating 14 points across their past six games.

Millwall ended their regular season one point shy of the automatic promotion places and have earned 11 points in six games, while Middlesbrough have picked up nine and Hull City just six.

"I feel that momentum, wherever you finish – whether it's third, fourth, fifth or sixth – coming into it in a real feel-good factor is really important," Jobi McAnuff told the More Than the Score podcast.

"You look at Millwall or Saints this year and they are definitely the two coming into it with that – and of course they are third and fourth. I think if you are fans of those clubs, it's two factors there that are in your favour."

The play-off semi-finals begin on Friday with Hull City hosting Millwall (20:00 BST).

The Tigers secured their spot on the final day with a 2-1 win over Norwich City, but McAnuff is leaning towards the Lions to progress.

"I do favour Millwall to get through – their away form has been absolutely brilliant this season," he added.

"They are going to be a real hard nut to crack, very solid defensively, very organised, so for the semis I think that suits them well.

"It's a club that has been around the play-offs more often than not in the last few years and not quite able to get there."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg is looking forward to two attacking matches with Southampton as Boro's play-off fate was confirmed.

They ended the regular season with a rollercoaster 2-2 draw at Wrexham as their automatic promotion hopes were dashed by Ipswich Town's easy win over QPR.

It all meant that the Teessiders dropped one place from fourth to fifth with the first leg of their semi-final to be played at the Riverside Stadium next Saturday (12:30 BST).

"Two very good games of football probably," Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees.

"Two attack-minded teams that want to play, want to press, two great games of football and I'm looking forward to it."

The draw in north Wales made it four games unbeaten for Boro to end the regular season with 10 goals scored in that spell.

The seven-game winless run that preceded that effectively finished off their hopes of a top-two spot, but Hellberg was pleased with how his side tried everything to get the three points against the Dragons.

"We know we had a little chance to get second, but we gave it a shot," he said.

"When the opponent tries to also be forward thinking, they become good games that we're involved in and it was a good game today.

"At half-time, we understood Ipswich were going to win the game quite easily and we gave it a push. They tried to win it, which opened up a lot of space and we should have done that much, much better.

"That was the disappointing thing today, otherwise a lot of things were very good."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts and predictions before the final day Championship showdown in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League between Ipswich Town, Millwall and Middlesbrough.

To realistically finish in the top two, Boro must win and hope that Ipswich lose and Millwall fail to beat Oxford.

If the Tractor Boys draw, Kim Hellberg's side would need to win by six goals to overhaul them on goal difference - and it would also still require the Lions to not beat the U's.

Here are a selection of your responses:

Paul: We blew it a while back. Home games against weaker teams where we dropped points. Oxford and Pompey spring to mind. Those wins would've had us up.

Stephen: Big day coming up. One last roll of the dice. The Boro need three points and the others to drop points. That winless streak has cost automatic promotion. Just got to keep hoping and praying. Roll on Saturday. Up the Boro.

John: Boro have had their dip in form which has coincided with injuries to key players. The return of Whittaker, McGree, Castledine and Hackney will provide the momentum to get them up through the play-offs. They will also use the energy from the penalty decision at Ipswich and the 5-1 home win against Watford to get them over the line. Sixth time lucky to win at Wembley.

Andy: I have to say that if you asked me eight months ago, 'Would Boro be in the play-offs?' I'd have had your hand off! Retrospectively, I'd now say we have blown second place, but there's a slim chance we can do it Saturday.

Proud to support the Boro, I feel we are the best team in the mix, just that spell without a win in seven killed us. I think Ipswich deserve second place on their recent form... But who knows.

Andrew: Come on Boro! Keep up the winning momentum and we will go up. If we're lucky we'll be up with just one more win but if not we'll still go up with three more wins!

Jess: Middlesbrough have got to win. It's a tough ask at Wrexham. Not winning games they should have is probably going to cost them that automatic promotion place. But isn't it a brilliant way to finish, the fight for third place [via the play-offs]? Come on Boro!