Middlesbrough FC vs Southampton FC

Riverside Stadium

Saturday, 9th May

KO: 12:30pm

LIVE on Sky Sports Football

Hello again. Let's face it, we all knew this is how it would end. Boro simply do not do things the easy way...although at the start of the season I'd have laughed in your face if you said we'd finish in the top 6. Ah, such is life as a Boro fan.

Oh, you're expecting a song? Well, I've summed up the season in a nutshell right here, hopefully it gives us all a bit of confidence going into the playoffs. What are you waiting for? Click here! Click me nowwwww..

Lyrics (Copyright me, Denzel Zanzibar 2026)

[Intro]

All summer we said

“We’ll struggle again,”

Low hopes, low chatter, same Boro pain

But we still turned up, ’cos that’s the Teesside way—

Doubt in our heads, but we hope anyway.

[Verse 1]

Three‑nil at Millwall, flying from the start

Watford hit back, but it didn’t break our hearts

Beat Brum at the Riverside, chaos in the air,

Aidy in the dugout ’cos Rob wasn't there.

Coventry smashed four past us, Hellberg looked on,

Derby came next — two‑one, game on.

Bristol took us down, then Saints felt the blow,

Four‑nil at the Riverside — let the whole place know.

[Chorus]

Ohhh, we’re still on our way

Even when the bright days fade to grey

Slipped from first but we didn’t break,

’Cos Boro hearts don’t know how to shake.

Southampton in the playoffs — bring ’em our way,

Ohhh, we’re still on our way.

[Verse 2]

Coventry away, three‑one — that’s where the slide began,

From top of the league to the playoff plan.

But Watford at home? Five‑one, what a roar,

A spark in the season, dreaming once more.

[Chorus]

Ohhh, we’re still on our way,

Teesside rising when the skies turn grey.

We’ve stumbled, sure, but we’ll stand again—

’Cos Boro's built to rise in the end.

Hold your scarves high, let the whole world say:

Middlesbrough FC are still on their way.

[Verse 3]

Now the playoffs are calling, we’re ready to play

Southampton again on Saturday

We’ve taken the hits, but we’re still standing tall

Boro in the playoffs, giving our all.

One last push, one last roar, one last red‑and‑white day—

Teesside believing… we’re still on our way.

[Chorus]

Ohhh, we’re still on our way,

Teesside rising when the skies turn grey.

We’ve stumbled, sure, but we’ll stand again—

’Cos Boro's built to rise in the end.

Hold your scarves high, let the whole world say:

Middlesbrough FC are still on their way.

Both teams are in mixed form and both have pretty much stumbled over the line into the playoffs, although Southampton should be the slight favourites given their rise from the bottom half of the table and a quite frankly astonishing unbeaten run that got them there.

They also have the momentum after winning their final regular game of the season 3-1 away at Preston, while Boro held Wrexham to a 2-2 draw.

Southampton fans are already talking about the upcoming match here, they're understandably confident they can beat us over two legs.

Talking Points

Starting lineup/formation?

Would you put Hackney in the squad for morale even if he can't play?

Can we do it?

#UTB #WeShallBe #WeShallBeWhatExactly?

4-0 to the boro

I feel we need to get a lead into the 2nd leg if we are going to progress. 3 months ago I'd have been confident of progressing given how we could play but our contrasting form since makes me less confident. If we can play like we did against Ipswich in the 2nd half, Watford or the Millwall 1st half we can pull it off. If we can be clinical in front of goal we have a great chance although we wouldnt be where we are now had we been this during the season.

Theres some encouraging signs in recent games, Whittakers performance against Watford (although seemed to be bullied out of the Wrexham game), Conways form and Strelec has started scoring. Targett and Brittain have also looked close to their best in recent weeks after both struggling during the rough period we had. Mcgree being fit is a boost although he needs to find his shooting again. His form has slumped when hes decided to be the 'creator' rather than the finisher.

On Hackney I would have him on the bench if anywhere near fit partly for the boost but also gives Southampton something to think about. Like Ive said we have about 3 slots where players wont have a chance of coming on so I cant see why not to have him there.

I feel Saints have the edge right now but I think if we can play the vintage 'Hellball' prior to the slump I think we are the best side in the division.

2-1 Boro hopefully go down to Saint Marys with some sort of lead. I don't fear these. Just don't gift them something.

With previous Play Offs I had a feeling of optimism, albeit at varying levels. Against Villa it was hope that we could maybe do something and spoil the party but Pulis ensured that there was never going to be any party of any sorts with his tactics and that killed that one.

Against Coventry I honestly thought we would do it but the slackening off in the games just prior to it killed our momentum and we just couldn't up the ante when it was required and cruelly fell short.

This time after the surrender of our top two position with that woeful run of home games I'm feeling somewhat apathetic towards the two forthcoming games. Whatever we had at Brammall Lane that night went with a Warwickshire version of Kryptonite. Since then we look to be coughing and spluttering, and to me at least unconvincing, despite stats showing that we should have won the Champions League never mind runners up in the Championship.

My mindset at the moment is probably a default airbag just primed to soften the impact when the inevitable happens. My only hope now is if I'm feeling so flat when previously I was excited and had hope, just maybe the perverse mindset of the footballing Gods may do what they have done to me before and deliver the opposite of what I dared to dream of and hope for?

Why the disappointed reaction, @Humpty ?

Brynn

Brittain Fry Malanda Targett

Browne Morris

Whittaker McGree

Strelec Conway

All we need is a home performance like Norwich and an away performance like Sheffield United. That should do it.

3-1 Boro in this. Azaz injury and HH back for the away leg

our friend Luke from Watford just posted this

Im braced for disappointment but pretty optimistic.

This is the first time this season we can say we have 3 players in goalscoring form. In fact weve not really had a period of 2 players in goalscoring form. If we can get mcgree up to speed quickly and even better some mine for Hackney, im confident we can score enough to get past them - couldn't have said that a month ago!

Do feel like weve been conceding more chances in recent games though, so if we can regain the kind of control of games weve had in the first 2/3rds or so of hellbergs reign plus the 3 forwards putting away their chances, theres zero reason why we cant book our trip to Wembley.

No team in this league is going to dismantle us, we've been solid all season and that's not going to change now. Taking a win in to the second leg will be massive, I'm glad we're at home first.

1 hour ago, Denzel Zanzibar said:

Why the disappointed reaction, @Humpty ?

It's a matchday thread for a play off game.

This game will be classed as the Francis Benali derby by some 👍

I'm going 2-0 to Boro, a goal in each half.

Said a while ago that the thought of Azaz returning to The Riverside scoring a goal and winding up Boro fans filled me with dread.

Honestly feel we will need at least a two goal cushion lead to take into the second match at St Marys to stand any chance of making the finals