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Southampton will take on Middlesbrough at St Mary's Stadium on Tuesday, 12 May, with a place in the Championship playoff final up for grabs.
Following Saturday's 0-0 draw at the Riverside, it is all still to play for on Tuesday night, but it's the Saints who go into the match as the favourites due to home advantage.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough key stats
- Middlesbrough are unbeaten across their last six Championship matches.
- Southampton have won just one of their last five matches in all competitions.
- Fewer than three goals have been scored in three of the last four matches between Southampton and Middlesbrough.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough preview: Expect a tense evening on the south coast
Southampton vs Middlesbrough — Tale of the Tape
| Southampton | vs | Middlesbrough |
|---|---|---|
| 4th | Position | 5th |
| 80 | Points | 80 |
| 82 | Goals For | 72 |
| 56 | Goals Against | 47 |
| 12 | Clean Sheets | 14 |
| 3rd | Home / Away Rank | 3rd |
Southampton will count themselves fortunate to be level in the tie heading into the second leg, as on another day, Middlesbrough could have won by two or three goals, such was their dominance at the Riverside. Boro registered 21 shots in the first leg, while Southampton failed to have a single shot on target.
What hasn't helped Southampton's cause this week is the fact that a member of their coaching staff was caught spying on Middlesbrough training in the build-up to the first leg. While legal ramifications are to come, the emotional boost it has given Boro cannot be quantified.
As a result, Tonda Eckert's men will have to be at their very best to overcome Boro on Tuesday night, but their form against other top six sides this season is a slight cause for concern. In 11 meetings with the top six this season, the Saints won on just one occasion.
Eckert has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the second leg, but he remains without Jack Stephens and Mads Roerslev.
As for Middlesbrough, they will feel more confident than ever that they can overcome Southampton and reach the playoff final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 23 May.
Playing away from home is no reason to believe that this team cannot replicate their display in the first leg, as their record on the road this season is excellent. Across their last ten Championship away matches, they have lost just once.
Manager Kim Hellberg pulled no punches in his pre-match press conference before the first leg, labelling Southampton ‘cheats'. A similar message will likely be conveyed to his players and the club's fans ahead of the second leg, in a bid to spark them into life once more.
In terms of injuries, Hellberg is still missing some key players, including Alfie Jones, Darragh Lenihan, Alex Bangura, and Hayden Hackney, who may have played his last game for the club.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough form guide & betting tips
| Southampton | vs | Middlesbrough |
|---|---|---|
WDDWD |
Form | DWWD D |
| 9 | Points | 9 |
| 8th | Form Table | 6th |
| 9 | Goals For | 10 |
| 6 | Goals Against | 5|
WDDWD |
Form (All Comps) | DWWDD |
Whispers predicts: Southampton 0-1 Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough's away form combined with Southampton's record against the top six this season leans us towards a memorable away victory on Tuesday night. Middlesbrough to win has been best priced at 15/8.
We are yet to see a goal in either of the two Championship playoff semi-finals this season. Under 2.5 goals has been priced at 1/1
Morgan Whittaker has scored 14 league goals this season. Whittaker is priced at 7/4 to score anytime on Tuesday.
> Middlesbrough to win at 15/8 | Likelihood: Possible
> Under 2.5 goals at 1/1 | Likelihood: Probable
> Whittaker to score anytime at 2/1 | Likelihood: Possible