Middlesbrough and Southampton don ready to face each other for Championship play-off semi-final first leg for Riverside Stadium. Dis na match wey get plenty drama even before ball don kick.
Boro fans don gather thousands to welcome dia team bus, with pyro, scarves, and flags. Striker Tommy Conway tell Sky Sports say di reception make am ready to run through brick wall.
But di main gist na di spygate controversy. EFL don charge Southampton for allegedly spying on Middlesbrough training on Thursday. A Saints performance analyst supposedly dey record Boro training and take pictures of tactics. Di staff member bin delete di footage and leave, but Boro still report am to EFL.
Southampton boss Tonda Eckert talk say di club don make statement and e no fit add anything. E say at dis stage of season, na players dey run di game, not coaches.
Middlesbrough coach Kim Hellberg tell im players say dis semi-final no go finish for first leg. E talk say na like first half of game, and dem need to dey aware of di situation.
Both sides end regular season with 80 points, but Saints beat Boro on goal difference. Southampton dey on fire, no lose for 19 matches, while Boro bin struggle but don recover form.
Di match-up go dey interesting. Leo Scienza na Southampton star, with 10 assists and most big chances created. Callum Brittain for Boro get most dribbles for any defender for Championship. Di battle between dem go dey key.
Finn Azaz, wey leave Middlesbrough for Southampton dis season, go face im former club. Andy Hinchcliffe talk say Azaz get quality to turn game, but e go face scrutiny. Don Goodman advise Boro fans make dem no boo am, because e fit motivate am.
Middlesbrough possible lineup include Brynn for goal, Ayling, Fry, Malanda for defence, Brittain, Morris, Browne, Targett for midfield, and Whittaker, Conway, Strelec for attack. Southampton fit start Peretz, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning, Charles, Jander, Fellows, Azaz, Scienza, Larin.
Di second leg go hold for St Mary's on Tuesday night. Di winner go face winner of Millwall vs Hull City for Wembley final.
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