Middlesbrough vs Southampton, 2025-26 English League Championship, Promotion Semifinals
· 1st LegSouthampton and Middlesbrough play out goalless draw in first leg of Championship playoff semifinal
Southampton parked 'spygate' and survived an early onslaught against aggrieved Middlesbrough as a pulsating first leg of this Sky Bet Championship play-off semifinal somehow ended 0-0.
Match Timeline
- 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
- 0': First Half begins.
- 2': Offside, Southampton. Cyle Larin is caught offside.
- 6': Attempt blocked. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tommy Conway.
- 6': Attempt blocked. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tommy Conway.
- 6': Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
- 7': Attempt missed. David Strelec (Middlesbrough) header from the left side of the six yard box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Morgan Whittaker with a cross following a corner.
- 11': Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 11': Foul by Finn Azaz (Southampton).
- 14': Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Tom Fellows.
- 16': Attempt missed. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Aidan Morris.
- 16': Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 16': Foul by Caspar Jander (Southampton).
- 17': Attempt missed. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Callum Brittain.
- 20': Attempt blocked. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Riley McGree.
- 20': Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by James Bree.
- 21': Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Daniel Peretz.
- 21': Attempt saved. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Daniel Peretz (Southampton). Assisted by Matt Targett.
- 23': Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Caspar Jander.
- 25': Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 25': Foul by Tom Fellows (Southampton).
- 27': Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 27': Foul by Finn Azaz (Southampton).
- 28': Attempt missed. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Matt Targett.
- 30': Attempt missed. Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
- 30': Adilson Malanda (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 30': Foul by Cyle Larin (Southampton).
- 32': Attempt blocked. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by David Strelec.
- 32': Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by James Bree.
- 33': Attempt missed. Matt Targett (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
- 35': Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Riley McGree following a fast break.
- 40': Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ryan Manning.
- 40': Attempt saved. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner by Daniel Peretz (Southampton). Assisted by Riley McGree.
- 40': Attempt saved. Matt Targett (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Daniel Peretz (Southampton). Assisted by Morgan Whittaker.
- 41': Attempt blocked. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 43': Adilson Malanda (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 43': Foul by Caspar Jander (Southampton).
- 44': Offside, Middlesbrough. Riley McGree is caught offside.
- 44': Foul by Caspar Jander (Southampton).
- 44': Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 45'+1': Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
- 45'+1': Attempt blocked. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by David Strelec.
- 45'+1': Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ryan Manning.
- 45'+2': Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Nathan Wood.
- 45'+2': Attempt missed. Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) header from a difficult angle on the right is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Morgan Whittaker with a cross following a corner.
- 45'+3': First Half ends, Middlesbrough 0, Southampton 0.
- 45': Second Half begins Middlesbrough 0, Southampton 0.
- 49': Foul by David Strelec (Middlesbrough).
- 49': Nathan Wood (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 50': Attempt missed. Cyle Larin (Southampton) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Tom Fellows with a cross.
- 52': Attempt blocked. David Strelec (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Targett with a cross.
- 52': Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
- 52': Attempt missed. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Matt Targett with a cross following a corner.
- 54': Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 54': Foul by Flynn Downes (Southampton).
- 55': Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 55': Foul by Cyle Larin (Southampton).
- 55': Cyle Larin (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 57': Attempt missed. David Strelec (Middlesbrough) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Callum Brittain with a cross.
- 59': Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 59': Foul by Flynn Downes (Southampton).
- 59': Flynn Downes (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 60': Substitution, Southampton. Ross Stewart replaces Cyle Larin.
- 61': Léo Scienza (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 61': Foul by Riley McGree (Middlesbrough).
- 61': Finn Azaz (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 61': Foul by Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough).
- 62': Attempt missed. Léo Scienza (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
- 65': Offside, Southampton. Tom Fellows is caught offside.
- 67': Attempt blocked. Léo Scienza (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ross Stewart.
- 68': Substitution, Middlesbrough. Alan Browne replaces Riley McGree.
- 69': Substitution, Southampton. Kuryu Matsuki replaces Tom Fellows.
- 69': Substitution, Southampton. Shea Charles replaces Flynn Downes.
- 69': Foul by Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough).
- 69': Léo Scienza (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 70': Attempt missed. Shea Charles (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a set piece situation.
- 72': Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Matt Targett.
- 75': Offside, Southampton. Léo Scienza is caught offside.
- 76': Delay in match (Middlesbrough).
- 76': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 77': Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 77': Foul by Shea Charles (Southampton).
- 79': Substitution, Middlesbrough. Jeremy Sarmiento replaces Morgan Whittaker.
- 79': Substitution, Middlesbrough. Leo Castledine replaces David Strelec.
- 79': Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ryan Manning.
- 80': Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 80': Foul by Ross Stewart (Southampton).
- 82': Offside, Middlesbrough. Leo Castledine is caught offside.
- 84': Ryan Manning (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 84': Foul by Jeremy Sarmiento (Middlesbrough).
- 84': Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Ryan Manning with a cross following a set piece situation.
- 85': Foul by Dael Fry (Middlesbrough).
- 85': Ross Stewart (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 86': Substitution, Southampton. Samuel Edozie replaces Léo Scienza.
- 87': Attempt missed. Samuel Edozie (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ross Stewart following a fast break.
- 89': Offside, Southampton. Samuel Edozie is caught offside.
- 90': Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
- 90'+1': Attempt saved. Leo Castledine (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Daniel Peretz (Southampton). Assisted by Aidan Morris with a cross.
- 90'+3': Caspar Jander (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 90'+3': Foul by Alan Browne (Middlesbrough).
- 90'+4': Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 0, Southampton 0.
- 0': Match ends, Middlesbrough 0, Southampton 0.
Statistics
 SOU |
MID |
|
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Fouls | 7 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 4 | Offsides | 2 |
| 1 | Corner Kicks | 11 |
| 4 | Saves | 0 |
| 36.5 | Possession | 63.5 |
| 6 | SHOTS | 21 |
| 0 | ON GOAL | 5 |
| 0.0 | On Target % | 0.2 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 257 | Accurate Passes | 481 |
| 328 | Passes | 568 |
| 0.8 | Pass Completion % | 0.8 |
| 5 | Accurate Crosses | 6 |
| 18 | Crosses | 34 |
| 0.3 | Cross % | 0.2 |
| 51 | Long Balls | 43 |
| 22 | Accurate Long Balls | 20 |
| 0.4 | Long Balls % | 0.5 |
| 1 | Blocked Shots | 6 |
| 6 | Effective Tackles | 7 |
| 9 | Tackles | 10 |
| 0.7 | Tackle % | 0.7 |
| 12 | Interceptions | 8 |
| 29 | Effective Clearances | 21 |
| 29 | Clearances | 21 |
Game Information
Competition: English League Championship
Venue: Riverside Stadium
Location: Middlesbrough, England
Attendance: 32,045
Venue: Riverside Stadium
Location: Middlesbrough, England
Attendance: 32,045
Line-Ups
Middlesbrough (3-4-2-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 31 | Solomon Brynn (GK) |
| 6 | Dael Fry |
| 29 | Adilson Malanda |
| 12 | Luke Ayling |
| 8 | Riley McGree |
| 18 | Aidan Morris |
| 3 | Matt Targett |
| 2 | Callum Brittain |
| 13 | David Strelec |
| 9 | Tommy Conway |
| 11 | Morgan Whittaker |
Southampton (4-2-3-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 41 | Daniel Peretz (GK) |
| 15 | Nathan Wood |
| 6 | Taylor Harwood-Bellis |
| 3 | Ryan Manning |
| 14 | James Bree |
| 10 | Finn Azaz |
| 4 | Flynn Downes  |
| 20 | Caspar Jander |
| 9 | Cyle Larin |
| 13 | Léo Scienza |
| 18 | Tom Fellows |
EFL Championship News
EFL playoffs 2025-26: Schedule, results, how to watch, more as teams battle for promotion
After a gripping final day across the EFL, the 12 teams to make the playoffs have been confirmed.
Millwall vs Hull City in Championship playoffs: TV channel, kick-off time, live stream, referee, injury and team news
All you need to know ahead of the Championship playoff semifinal second leg between Millwall and Hull City.
Spygate 2.0? Explaining Middlesborough vs. Southampton incident, what next, rule-change since Marcelo Bielsa
Middlesborough have filed a complaint to the English Football League, alleging that "an individual identified to be associated" with Southampton has been caught filming training sessions but what happens next?
Promotions and relegations in the EFL: Who's going up, who's going down?
From the high-life of the Premier League all the way to League Two, ESPN rounds up every side to have been promoted or relegated this season.
Playoff 'spygate' row erupts as Middlesbrough boss makes 'cheat' claim, Southampton's storms out
Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg said he could not believe Southampton's brazen attempt to "cheat" and looked forward to seeing if the punishment for 'spygate' fits the crime.