Match Pack: Saints vs Middlesbrough
Matchday at St Mary's returns as Saints host Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship on Good Friday. Get prepared for the encounter with our Match Pack...
THE MATCH
Saints vs Middlesbrough
Sky Bet Championship
St Mary’s Stadium
Friday 29th March, 3pm GMT
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Matthew Donohue
Assistants: Lee Venamore, Matthew Smith
Fourth official: John Busby
Saints kick-off the run-in at home. (Photo: Matt Watson)
WHERE TO WATCH
Friday's game will be streamed live on Saints Play worldwide, with supporters able to watch the action with a Saints Play Seasonal Video Pass or match-by-match pass.
There is also live audio coverage available - supporters can purchase an audio pass which will cover the month for £4.49:
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
With ten games to play, the run-in begins with Saints aware that they have little room for error to reach the automatic promotion places.
Russell Martin's side are nine points off the top two, with two games in hand, so know that they need to first make up ground before overtaking either Ipswich, Leicester or Leeds United.
For Middlesbrough, they were in a good vein of form before the international break so will want to extend their four-match unbeaten run; a late surge towards the play-offs is not out of the question, with Michael Carrick's side four positions and seven points away.
All eyes on a final push for Saints.
TEAM NEWS
Saints have had positive news in terms of player recovery, with Russell Martin confirming that recent absentees Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Fraser are back available.
Jan Bednarek and David Brooks were declared fit to play as well, after the pair were substituted in their crucial EURO 2024 play-off earlier in the week.
THE MANAGERS
Russell Martin: "We have enjoyed a bit of time on the training pitch and have had a bit of balance as well with rest and recovery.
"We have looked at what we felt we needed to prioritise after the last few games, we've worked really hard and have kept reinforcing the stuff they're doing, and the rest will take care of itself.
"It is going to be a really interesting and busy five weeks and I think everyone is really excited about it."
Michael Carrick: "I think we’ve just found a bit of a formula, developed a better understanding and it’s all come together. Clean sheets definitely help, it’s something to build on and something we haven’t had enough of.
"[Play-offs] might be too much to ask, we might pull it off, but at this stage no one knows and we can only control what we can and try and win the games we have while playing well and seeing what happens from there."
TOP SCORERS
Southampton
Goals:
Adam Armstrong 18
Ché Adams 12
Ryan Fraser 8
Assists:
Adam Armstrong 11
Stuart Armstrong 6
Ché Adams 5
Middlesbrough
Goals:
Emmanuel Latte Lath 9
Rogers, Forss 7
McGree, Silvera, Jones 6
Assists:
Morgan Rogers 8
Matt Crooks 6
Daniel Barlaser 5
ONES TO WATCH
Kyle Walker-Peters: Having been absent for the past two games before the international break, Saints' dynamic full-back has been passed fit and available to return.
His assured confidence in defence and on the ball, coupled with four goal contributions this campaign, could prove to be a huge boost during the run-in.
Emmanuel Latte Lath: The 25-year-old Ivorian striker is Middlesbrough's top scorer this season and, in their recent unbeaten run, has scored twice in the last four games without defeat.
Walker-Peters is fit for selection again.
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 58
Saints: 25
Draws: 15
Preston: 18
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
September 2023: Middlesbrough 2-1 Saints (A. Armstrong)
May 2017: Middlesbrough 1-2 Saints (Rodriguez, Redmond)
December 2016: Saints 1-0 Middlesbrough (Boufal)
April 2012: Middlesbrough 2-1 Saints (Sharp)
October 2011: Saints 3-0 Middlesbrough (Do Prado 2, Connolly)
DID YOU KNOW?
This is only Southampton’s third league game on Good Friday since 1977, when they beat Plymouth Argyle 4-1 thanks to goals from Ted MacDougall (2), David Peach, and Mick Channon.
The two Good Friday fixtures that have followed are a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion in 1979, and a 3-0 defeat against Wolves in 2009.
Middlesbrough won their first away league game on Good Friday back in 1901, but have since won two of 33 away games on that day since (D11 L20).
KEEP UP TO DATE
Unable to make it to St Mary's? We’ve got you covered! We’ll bring you all the behind-the-scenes content alongside the in-game action as Saints host Boro.
Check out our interactive match centre at southamptonfc.com, with live streaming of the game, key updates and audio commentary of the match, and be sure to download the official Saints app and follow us on social media for further updates and exclusive content:
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