How we expect Middlesbrough to line-up against Southampton in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final
16:59, 08 May 2026Updated 17:01, 08 May 2026
The Middlesbrough team huddle(Image: Getty Images)
Amid the furore surrounding Spygate 2.0, let’s not forget that there’s a very important football game taking place tomorrow!
Middlesbrough host Southampton in the first leg of the play-off semi-final, hoping to make use of home advantage to take a lead into next Tuesday’s second leg.
As far as selection is concerned, Kim Hellberg is expecting to have largely the same squad as he had available at Wrexham on the final day of the regular season. Hayden Hackney has been back on the training pitches, but not quite in full training, and will therefore, at best, surely only make the bench. Here’s how we predict the Boro team will look on Saturday.
GK – Sol Brynn – In two games against a solid opponent, Brynn may be needed a bit more than has been the norm in recent months. Boro need their young keeper to step up now.
DR – Callum Brittain – We’re predicting a switch back to a four-man defence for the home leg of the play-off. That means Brittain would return to his more natural full-back role.
DC – Dael Fry – The reason we’re predicting a back four in the first leg, is to allow Hellberg to use a back three in the second leg. Given the opposition and what’s at stake, Boro will need Luke Ayling at his sharpest for that second leg, and therefore resting him for this one feels wise.
DC – Adilson Malanda – Five months on from his incredible debut against Southampton, Boro will hope the big Frenchman can produce another two performances of similar ilk.
DL – Matt Targett – Targett came through the academy ranks at Southampton. But he’s made clear his desire to help Boro to promotion this season and has been Mr. Reliable throughout this campaign.
CM – Aidan Morris – The midfielder has been immense of late, and Boro will need him to be so again. Southampton have tricky forward players and Morris will no doubt be tasked with supporting the back four as much as possible.
CM – Alan Browne – Browne’s form has been up and down of late, though the Sunderland loanee, it’s only fair to point out, has been dealing with a slight injury issue. Boro will need him to step up and use all of his experience to get through these games.
CM – Riley McGree – In what we’d expect to be quite a fluid midfield that allows either McGree or Browne to step up into the attack when necessary, McGree’s 45 minutes at Wrexham, in which he influenced positive change in the match for his side, will hopefully prove important.
RW – Morgan Whittaker – While Whittaker can blow hot and cold in games, his numbers speak for themselves. He heads into the play-offs in good form after his recent return from injury. He will be well-placed to make himself a hero now.
LW – Tommy Conway – What a difference a goal or two makes. Conway appears to have hit form at the perfect moment. Hopefully he carries that feeling into the play-offs where he can then play a huge part in Boro being successful against a good Southampton side.
ST – David Strelec – A similar story could be said of Strelec, too. His goal at Wrexham encapsulated a fine striker with instinctive movement in the penalty area, which was capped off with an excellent finish too. If Boro service the Slovakian, he too can make himself a hero at the end of his roller-coaster first season at Boro.
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