Middlesbrough v Saints Kick off: 17.20, Saturday 21st April. Form Saints last six matches: WLWDLW Middlesbrough last six matches: DWLLDD Last time out 1-3 â The last time these two sides met at the Riverside for a league game was in Saintsâ last season in the Premiership in the 2004/05 campaign. Middlesbrough enjoyed great success that year and finished seventh in the Premier League under the guidance of Steve McClaren qualifying for the UEFA Cup in the process. However, with Southampton languishing in the bottom three of the Premiership at the time of this game (in March) Southampton managed to record their first away win of the season to propel them (only momentarily) out of the bottom three thanks to a Peter Crouch brace and a goal from centre back Andreas Jakobsson. (Match report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4343227.stm ) What the boss says "We have two matches left and we want to put six more points on the board. Our aim has always been to be champions and that hasn't changed." - source BBC What the others say Jason Roberts (Reading striker): "We will enjoy today [confirming promotion on Tuesday night], then we will come back on Saturday and win the league." - source Sky sports interview. Tony Mowbray (Middlesbrough boss): "Southampton have a chance on Saturday to guarantee promotion, so I'm hearing they're bringing a lot of fans and we've got to concentrate and make life difficult. The time for talking is out on the pitch. They don't need me to give them any rallying cries, footballers are well paid individuals who have to go out and get the job done. Yes you can give them tactics, motivation and drive but it's down to them to compete, in this league matches are tight and we need to take chances when they come along." - source BBC. Sam Allardyce (West Ham boss): "First and foremost, we've got to hope Middlesbrough do us a favour and beat Southampton on Saturday. Even if we get that favour we've still got to go and beat Leicester. There's nothing we can do until Monday in terms of ourselves to prepare." - source BBC. Team news Nigel Adkins may name the same starting eleven for the third match in a row, however Jos Hooiveld is a slight doubt and Aaron Martin could deputise. After a tough week Guly do Prado, Frazer Richardson and Morgan Schneiderlin could all be in line for a recall but are likely to have to settle for a position on the bench. David Connolly and Tadanari Lee remain out. Middlesbrough are without influential captain Martin Bates, but promising left back Joe Bennett is likely to return whereas Marvin Emnes and Australian international Rhys Williams are highly doubtful. Faris Haroun could return and Barry Robson will make his last home match appearance should he play before his summer move to Canada. Coverage Live on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports 2HD from 5 pm; live commentary on BBC Radio 5live sports extra http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_five_live_sports_extra) Other games of note this weekend Reading v Crystal Palace (Saturday 21st, 3 pm) Leicester City v West Ham United (Monday 23rd, 19.45 pm) Discussion Southamptonâs last away game heads Nigel Adkinsâ bus northeastwards up to the Riverside Stadium. Nigel Adkins and his men are seeking the one more victory required that will take the Saints up to the Premiership with one home game left to spare. Middlesbrough will also be desperate to return to winning ways after being held to a draw by perennial strugglers Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday. A win is a must, if The Boro are to keep alive their faint hopes of reaching the Championship play-offs. Southampton ended a turbulent period on a high on Tuesday with a comfortable victory over injury ravaged Peterborough. Saints latest victory has restored confidence in the sidesâ chances of winning against Middlesbrough and extending their positive recent away form winning six of their last seven away matches. However, despite a number of injuries Tony Mowbrayâs Middlesbrough are a capable outfit who have been there or thereabouts around the Championship play-offs all season. With this game being a late kick-off earlier matches in the day may influence the psyche and approach of the two sides due to the plethora of possible outcomes. Three points for Cardiff and Blackpool who both play at home to Leeds United and Burnley respectively will realistically extinguish any Middlesbrough hopes of the play-offs (Birmingham need one point from two games). Whereas a win for leaders Reading in their penultimate 3 pm match at home to Crystal Palace will put them six points clear of Southampton who would have to win to keep the Championship title race going to the last week of the season. Can Southampton gain promotion this weekend, will Reading confirm themselves as top dogs of the division or suffer a hangover and will West Ham still be in contention for the automatic promotion places by the end of the weekend? Note: I know that a lot of people enjoy writing match day threads and I do not wish to usurp you. However, to keep the momentum rolling from our last victory against Peterborough I have written this, so hope you do not mind.
Ps. hope this is not too early, I know that it is supposed to be only three days prior so it is boarder line, sorry Beddytare :s.
Id like to see Butterfield stay in the 11 on Saturday. I think hes earned a run in the team after great recent performances! Assuming Schneiderlin is back, otherwise Hammond: Davis Butterfield Hooiveld Fonte Fox Chaplow Schneiderlin Cork Lallana Sharp Lambert We thrashed Palace, we thrashed Reading despite being mugged, we thrashed Peterbrough, im gna be controversial and say we will beat Middlesbrough (SHOCKING I KNOW!!) 2-0 Saints. Sharp, Schneiderlin (30 yard screamer)
Good read. Feeling Positive. But then....Jos a doubt, Why? I really hope we can say good bye to the Championship by performing well on TV!! COYR!!!!
Jos didn't off injured did he? I thought it was just to give Martin some gametime/experience being 3-0 up?
NA will not change the team unless he needs to because of injury/suspension. Hammond and Cork have been superb and will continue to partner each other. 2-0 win! Confidence is flowing!
Come on saints just one more game to go now to get out of this crazy division and in to the promised land! Boro 0-3 Saints.
great thread, i'm now feeling confident of a positive result and i think 2 wins will be enough to win the title.
I don't think so, but straight after he scored, Martin was out warming up for 10 minutes, so I wondered if there was a knock.
http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10280~58992,00.html 'On 63 Hooiveld was replaced by Aaron Martin with the Dutchman seemingly coming off as a precaution with a slight knock.' So it was an injury, though hopefully a tiny one. Should be back for Saturday I guess, but wouldn't be too surprised if Martin came in for the Middlesborough game, just to be on the safe side. At least with Adkins being an ex-physio we can trust that if a play does play or is rested it's for the right reasons.
From BBC sport Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray believes a lack of goals will be the deciding factor if they miss out on the Championship play-offs this season. The Teessiders were unable to break down relegated Doncaster in Tuesday's 0-0 draw, a result that leaves Boro four points off with two games to play. "We just haven't scored enough goals," Mowbray told BBC Tees. "Other teams in the top half have over 70 but we've scored 49 and those are the harsh facts, the harsh reality." He added: "We have to put that right moving forward, and try to do that in the summer if we can." I'm glad he said the summer and not Saturday!!!!
Yep they said on solent that he got up quite gingerly after scoring so he might have taken a knock then. He played on for another hour almost though so I doubt it was anything serious.
He was good yesterday, but Peterbrough dont have the offensive capabilities that Reading and Middlesbrough have. Notice since hes been out we've let in 4 goals from the edge of the penalty area because they werent closed down well enough by the midfield. Schneiderlin is a better holding midfielder than hammond and would have closed those down better. I guess it depends how fit he is.
We simply have to win this game if we're going to have a hope of winning the league. If we avoid defeat we should be up, but a win is needed. I can see reading taking there feet of the pedal and really it could be a blessing they went up last night.
Boro have only won once in the last 10 games. We've won 6 of the last 7 away from home. They could be out of contention for the playoffs by the time we kick off. We've already beaten them comfortably this season. Their home record is fairly poor: http://fussball.wettpoint.com/en/tables/home/england-championship.html Their away record is the reason they're just outside the playoffs: http://fussball.wettpoint.com/en/tables/away/england-championship.html We can do this.
