Middlesbrough vs Southampton Championship semi-final preview: 'Neither side are capable of playing safe football'

There was a time not too long ago where it seemed nearly impossible that this would end up as a Championship play-off semi-final.

Middlesbrough spent more days in the top two than any other club this season, while Southampton were labouring in the bottom half of the table midway through the campaign.

In January, Boro smashed the Saints 4-0, and it felt as though the two sides were going in different directions. Tonda Eckert's men, you feel, will have a score to settle after that.

But here we are, fifth versus fourth at the Riverside, with the Saints somehow marching above Boro and going into this tie as slim favourites.

Is it 2019 all over again? Seven years on from the first 'Spygate', when Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa admitted sending a member of staff to spy on Derby County and the club were fined £200,000 following an investigation, it has happened again in the Championship.

Middlesbrough have made a formal complaint to the EFL alleging a man they believe to be a Southampton member of staff was spying on their training session on Thursday.

He is then said to have tried to change his appearance before leaving Rockcliffe entirely.

The EFL charged Southampton late on Friday with a breach of EFL regulations that strictly prohibit opponents spying on training sessions less than 72 hours before kick-off - a rule brought in following the incident in 2019.

Saints have confirmed acknowledgement of the charge and say they will be cooperating fully with investigations.

From about 17 games to go, Southampton were probably the best team in the league.

But then if you go back about 10 games before that, I would have been arguing at that point it was Middlesbrough. They won six in a row playing some of the best football I'd seen in the Championship.

If they both hit their levels, I couldn't tell you who would win.

Middlesbrough and Southampton have many things in common, but the biggest one is that I haven’t seen either of them play a dull, boring game. I don’t think they’re capable of playing safe football.

They have a very distinct way of trying to win games and I don’t think either coach will alter that. I can’t imagine Southampton going to the Riverside and setting up in a low block, so I think we’re going to get two really good games.

I just hope it’s the kind of free-flowing attacking game these sides are capable of producing. There are so many in-form goalscorers on both sides, and a lot of attacking talent. That’s what makes it exciting.

Southampton are the form side in the Championship. You look at the last six games and beyond, they’re the best side at the moment. The question is whether they can reproduce that over two legs.

Middlesbrough have the quality and experience to reset after missing out on the top two. This could be a really attractive couple of games and it’s very difficult to decide between them.

Middlesbrough were creating chances but not taking them, and that’s why they fell away. Now they are starting to take those chances, which will worry Southampton.

If Southampton play in an open, attacking way, that could play into Middlesbrough’s hands. That’s what makes it so tight to call.

And then there is Finn Azaz, who swapped Middlesbrough for Southampton at the start of this season.

He started slowly, as did most of the Saints, but has emerged as one of their key men in attack. His reception at the Riverside, just as it was back in January, will be frosty at best.