Southampton

Dan George
BBC Sport, Hampshire

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Southampton leaving the Riverside with a draw will feel like a win for Tonda Eckert's side despite the scoreless draw.

After a first half when they had their backs against the wall, Saints grew into the game and even threatened to score themselves when Taylor Harwood-Bellis crashed a header against the crossbar and Sam Edozie ran through on goal.

It would have been quite the smash and grab if they had managed to find the net.

In the first 45 minutes they looked like a shadow of the team that ended the regular season, unable to keep the ball and absorbing wave after wave of attack.

But they improved in the second half, changes bringing energy and fresh legs as the Boro players tired and gaps started to appear in midfield.

The noise of the past 24 hours amped up the atmosphere a notch or two, but the hosts were unable to capitalise on their dominance, something they might later regret.

St Mary's awaits for Tuesday's second leg when Southampton fans will bring their own hostile environment for Kim Hellberg's team, as they did against West Brom two years ago.

In the meantime, we await the EFL's verdict after charging Southampton on Friday night with spying on Middlesbrough, there could still be more twists and turns in that story before we get to the return leg.

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Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert said that he could tell Middlesbrough "spent a lot of energy" in their dominant first-half performance and that it caused the game to "open up" in the second half.

Despite being the better side, the hosts had nothing to show for their efforts at half-time and watched Saints grow into the second half of the match with chances of their own.

"It was a proper game," Eckert said. "The boys have been outstanding over 90 minutes and we take a lot of positives into Tuesday (the second leg).

"Credit to Boro for a good first half, but they spent a lot of energy in the first 45 minutes - you could see that they went all out.

"The game opened up in the second half a little bit more and we had two very big chances to win it at the end."

Southampton were charged by the English Football League on Friday with spying on Middlesbrough at the club's training ground.

"The club made a statement yesterday evening and that is all there is to say about it at the moment," Eckert told BBC Radio Solent.

"The story draws attention but these games belong to the players, they are decided by the players and not the coaching staff and that's the important part.

"I've said all there is to say at the moment about that. We need to just focus because the game on Tuesday is going to need all of our energy."

Southampton defender James Bree has been discussing the upcoming Championship play-off semi-final games against Middlesbrough and his return to the side.

The 28-year-old left the club on loan at the start of the campaign but since returning in January he is yet to lose a league game.

Bree sat down with BBC South Today's Lewis Coombes.

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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).

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Southampton's Tonda Eckert has been named the Championship's manager of the month for April, his third successive award.

Saints went unbeaten in the Championship last month, taking 14 points from a six-game unbeaten run as well as reaching an FA Cup semi-final where they just lost out to Manchester City.

Southampton finished fourth in the table to secure a play-off place and will meet Middlesbrough in the semi-finals with the first leg on Teesside on Saturday, 9 May (12:30 BST).

"It's a real honour to receive this award again, but it's one that belongs to everyone at the football club," Eckert said.

"The players and staff have been outstanding, and our supporters continue to give us incredible backing every week.

"To win it three times in a row is something we can be proud of, but our focus remains fully on the games ahead.

"We've built a strong mentality as a group, and we have to keep pushing to finish the season as strongly as possible."

Coventry City's Frank Lampard, John Mousinho of Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers boss Michael O'Neill were also nominated for April's award.

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Southampton's Tonda Eckert, Frank Lampard of Coventry, Portsmouth boss John Mousinho and Blackburn's Michael O'Neill have been nominated for April's Championship manager of the month award.

Eckert is hoping to make it a hat-trick of wins after taking the award for both February and March.

He led Saints to an unbeaten run of six games last month as they finished in fourth place to secure a play-off place.

Lampard took Coventry to the Championship title and a return to the Premier League after 25 years away. The Sky Blues were also unbeaten in April, taking 12 points from their six matches.

John Moushino has kept Portsmouth in the Championship for a second successive season with impressive wins over Middlesbrough and Ipswich part of a haul of 14 points from seven outings.

Pompey forward Adrian Segecic is up for the player of month award after scoring four goals as part of the club's successful battle against relegation.

Also nominated for the manager's award is Michael O'Neill of Blackburn Rovers after the Northern Ireland boss oversaw nine points from six games in April to guide the club to safety.

The winners will be announced on Friday, 8 May.

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Southampton boss Tonda Eckert hopes his squad will be at "full strength" for their upcoming Championship play-off matches.

The Saints head coach said that he is "quite positive" defender Jack Stephens and midfielder Kuryu Matsuki will be available alongside a full squad for their games against Middlesbrough and a potential play-off final.

Club captain Stephens has not been available since April's clash against Bristol City, and when asked if Matsuki had returned to training, Eckert briefly responded: "yeah."

The 23-year-old Japan youth international - who signed in the summer - has missed out on the past two matches against Ipswich Town and Preston North End.

Also returning to the side following a three-match ban is midfielder Flynn Downes who missed Saints' FA Cup semi-final and their final two league matches.

Eckert said that he expects the 27-year-old to make a big impact for his side in these upcoming games.

"I still have a very clear opinion on the suspension and I've said my bit about that," Eckert told BBC Radio Solent.

"But that's gone now and I'm sure he'll be fully there and play a big part in what's coming, it definitely doesn't hurt (to have him back).

"I think Flynn, in the weeks before the suspension, had only been getting better and better game after game and obviously he'll be as fresh as you can potentially be at this part of the season and I think he'll play a big role for us."

Southampton face Boro away at the Riverside on Saturday before welcoming them to St Mary's on Tuesday for the second leg.

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

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Reports suggest Southampton could sign striker Cyle Larin and Daniel Peretz on permanent deals if the Championship club wins promotion.

Jack Rosser from the Sun, external is reporting that an option to buy Larin, included in his loan deal from La Liga side Mallorca, becomes an obligation if they go up.

BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore has also reported, external that it is the same scenario for Daniel Peretz who is on loan from Bayern Munich.

Saints face a Championship play-off semi-final against Middlesbrough with the away leg on Saturday (12:30 BST) before hosting Boro the following Tuesday (20:00 BST).

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Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis said that his side back themselves to "beat anyone" in their remaining matches this season.

Saints will play at least two more games, with a play-off semi-final against Middlesbrough to come before a Wembley final should they get past Boro over two legs.

Victory against Preston North End on the final day of the regular season saw Tonda Eckert's side seal a fourth-placed finish, four points off the automatic promotion spots, and still in with a chance of reaching the Premier League.

Harwood-Bellis admitted that their recent run of form - which includes a 19 league game unbeaten run - is down to the efforts of the entire football club and staff.

"We back ourselves to beat anyone, home or away," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"There's a relentlessness in the team, the manager and the staff at the moment, it's where we're living, right at the top, every single day in what we do.

"No one's taken days off, we've just been at it and it shows - even the loss at Wembley which was a sucker-punch but we've come out with so many positives that we can handle ourselves. We're fit, we're strong, we're just a different level at the minute."

The win for Saints at the weekend came after a winless run of three games which included two league draws and defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final.

The Saints centre-back scored with a header at Deepdale, his seventh goal of the season in 41 league appearances, and said Eckert had been keen to stress to the group the importance of taking momentum into the play-offs.

"We made a massive deal about getting back to winning ways before the game," he added.

"In the hotel and a few days leading up, he (Eckert) said not to underestimate how important that Preston game was.

"It was so important to just get back to that momentum and getting that winning feeling back."

Saints travel away to the Riverside on Saturday for the first leg of their play-off match before hosting Boro at St Mary's the following Tuesday.

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Southampton boss Tonda Eckert said that his side are "ready to make the last step" after sealing a fourth-placed finish in the Championship and setting up a play-off semi-final with Middlesbrough.

Saints beat Preston North End away at Deepdale, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ross Stewart and Cyle Larin finding the net.

The will now travel away to the Riverside in a week's time for the first leg of the semi-final, before hosting Kim Hellberg's side at St Mary's on the following Tuesday.

"It was very important to get back to winning ways," Eckert told BBC Radio Solent.

"It's not easy to play the game like we did today, especially after the schedule we have had over the last few weeks.

"The performance was excellent in every regard possible, the boys were fantastic today, we need to make the last step now and we are ready to do that.

"No-one cares if you go all the way then fall at the last step, the players are the best they have been all season right now, we are ready."