Southampton

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert praised his side for "digging deep" in their play-off win over Middlesbrough.

Saints came from behind to win in dramatic fashion on the night, as Shea Charles found the net with just four minutes of extra time remaining.

Eckert's side will now face Hull City at Wembley on 23 May for the chance to win promotion to the Premier League.

"The crowd was fantastic, it was a very special atmosphere when we came to the stadium," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"Today we had to dig very deep and credit to the players for doing that over 120 minutes, I think over both legs it was very well deserved.

"I just said to the boys that we are not finished yet, you can be happy about the result but there is more to do.

Eckert was also asked for the latest on the EFL charge over spying on Middlesbrough before the first leg of their play-off games.

Southampton put out another statement on Tuesday morning to share that they were conducting an internal review into the situtation.

"We've managed well to not let this distract the team but we take the matter very seriously," Eckert added.

"It's not easy for me but the club has made another statement and since it is an ongoing investigation there is not more to add, I will say something just not now."

Glen de la Cour
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Those not living under a rock will know that it is the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-final between Southampton and Middlesbrough at 20:00 BST. The winner will play Hull City in the "richest game in football" at Wembley on 23 May.

If only it was that simple.

It is not of course, because of the goings-on since last Thursday and Saints being accused of spying on a Middlesbrough training session.

The 0-0 draw in the first leg was overshadowed by the "spygate" episode and the heat has remained up since the game.

I understand Boro fans being angry and I know that a vast majority of Saints fans are mortified, embarrassed or angry (take your pick) at the situation.

The investigation will go on and, in the meantime, no article nor pundit and certainly no fan can make a difference.

All fans can do is what they always do and support their club, even if there is a part of it they are embarrassed to be associated with right now.

The second leg is huge.

The atmosphere inside and outside the ground is going to be off the scale and the ongoing situation is perfect for Saints players and fans to adopt a real siege mentality.

Nobody outside of Southampton will be wanting us to win this game and there will be no neutrality anywhere in how people will be thinking about it. Everyone else will want Boro to win. We have to use that to our advantage.

Win this and then let everything else play out. As fans, that is all we can do.

Find more from Glen at the Total Saints Podcast., external

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert is hoping their supporters can give the players a "very big lift" for Tuesday's Championship play-off semi-final second leg.

Saints welcome Middlesbrough to St Mary's and will be hoping to book their spot at Wembley for the play-off final as they did two years ago against West Brom under Russell Martin.

Saturday's scoreless draw at the Riverside was a fine result for Eckert's side who had to endure a huge amount of pressure in the first half but had chances to score late on.

"We are at half-time now and I think you can interpret this in many different ways," Eckert told BBC Radio Solent.

"In the end it's important that we bring it to our side on Tuesday and I think that the crowd and the supporters are going to give us a very big lift.

"The boys were outstanding over 90 minutes (on Saturday) and we take lots of the positives into the game on Tuesday."

Southampton are currently on a 20 game unbeaten run in the league and have not lost at St Mary's since a 2-1 defeat by Hull City in mid January.

When Southampton managed to navigate this stage two years ago they eased past the Baggies 3-1 in the second leg of a play-off semi-final that had also had a scoreless first leg.

You can follow all of the action in Tuesday's game live on the BBC Sport website and app or listen to live commentary on BBC Radio Solent.

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).