Southampton take on already relegated Middlebrough on Saturday afternoon at the Riverside. The home team will be out to prove something after a disappointing season and Southampton will be desperate for a win as they chase 8th place. Referee: Anthony Taylor Linesmen: G. Beswick, M Perry 4th Official: M. Jones Last 5 results for Saints are losses to Arsenal, Chelsea, and City with 0-0 draws against Liverpool and Hull. The Hull game was particularly disappointing as it was a winnable game at home, whereas the draw at Anfield could be viewed differently. Both the draws were remarkable for saved penalties. Last 5 results for Middlesbrough are losses to Chelsea, Bournemouth, and Arsenal, an admirable draw against City and a win against relegated Sunderland. Claude Puel reports no new injuries and that Charlie Austin is close, but unlikely to start.
Sorry if someone else is thinking of doing this, but time is running out....will add stuff as and when.
Lawro predicts a 2-1 win for Southampton. Let's give Claude Puel some credit for what he has done in his first season at Southampton, because he has been without some key players for long periods, on top of the talent that left the club in the summer and then in January too. Saints have still always been comfortable in mid-table, and reached the final of the League Cup. True, they have never looked like repeating last season's sixth-place finish but that has to go down as an over-achievement, so this year has not been a backward step. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, went down with a whimper.
Predictably Merson goes for a 2-0 Boro win....as he believes that Boro will want to finish strongly after relegation. Middlesbrough needed a result to stay up at Chelsea and the gulf between them was unreal. It was men against boys stuff. Southampton have hit a brick wall and Claude Puel needs to finish with a couple of results, but I'm going to go for Boro here, it's their last game at home in the Premier League and there's no reason for them not to go out on the attack and have a go. PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (18/1 with Sky Bet)
A new thread writer, a new dawn. If we're 0-0 at half time I'll look in on this thread to cheer myself up.
I'm going for a convincing Saints win. Middlesbrough with coke at us hopefully and that will leave big gaps at the back. Go on Fran, guide the Saints bus/train/boat through to the end of the season.
Despite some people criticising Wednesday's performance, I thought we played pretty well for the most part. Therefore I'm going for a comfortable 1-0 or 2-0 win.
Bookie's friend! Boro to score TWO AND keep a clean sheet against the mighty Saints ... I think not (I'd think about it at 180/1) I've got an easily digestible hat ready if I need it
If you know any aliens that are in the abducting business then I'd like to nominate a 606er for that service If they could slip in an anal probe while they're at it that would be a bonus ... oh and could they do a test for any signs of intelligence too?
MIDDLESBROUGH (AWAY) First competitive game against Middlesbrough - 1906 FA Cup 3rd Round (home) won 6-1 First league meeting: 1924-25 League Division Two - (H) draw 1-1 (A) draw 0-0 First top-flight league meeting: 1978-79 Division One - (H) won 2-1 (A) lost 0-2 Biggest defeat 1960-61 Division Two (away) lost 0-5 Biggest win 1962-63 Division Two (home) won 6-0 (also scored 6 in 1906 6-1 FA Cup win) Last league double - Saints 1996-97 Premier League (H) 4-0, (A) 1-0, Middlesbrough 2003-04 Premier League (H) 0-1, (A) 1-3 League totals: Saints won 23, Middlesbrough won 17, draws 15 - Goals-Saints 84 Middlesbrough 78 Cup totals: Saints won 2, Middlesbrough won 1, draws 0 - Goals-Saints 9 Middlesbrough 3
