📊 Form Guide
Southampton LWDDLL
Southampton will be hoping for a better result after the 2-1 EFL Cup losing effort in their last game against Liverpool.
In that game, Southampton managed 39% possession and 13 shots on goal with 3 of them on target. The only player to score for Southampton was Shea Charles (76'). On the other side, Liverpool had 10 attempts on goal with 4 on target. Alexander Isak (43') and Hugo Ekitiké (85') scored for Liverpool.
Over their last 6 games, Will Still's Southampton have celebrated scoring 7 times giving them an average number of goals per match of 1.17.
Their prior results show that Southampton:
- have not beaten Middlesbrough in their previous 2 league matches.
- are without a win at home for the past 2 league matches.
Middlesbrough LWWWDW
Middlesbrough will go into this match following on from a 2-1 Championship win with the eclipse of West Bromwich Albion in their last game.
In that game, Middlesbrough had 41% possession and 9 attempts on goal with 4 of them on target. For Middlesbrough, goals were scored by Dávid Strelec (26') and Kaly Sène (61'). For their opponents, West Bromwich Albion had 15 shots on goal with 3 on target. Aune Heggebø (90') was the scorer for West Bromwich Albion.
In a total of 5 out of the previous 6 games involving Middlesbrough, at least three goals have been hit. The overall average goals scored per game within that spell is 3, with the number of goals averaged by Middlesbrough coming out as 1.67. Such a trend won’t necessarily follow through here, however.
Looking at their past form shows that Middlesbrough:
- have not won against Southampton when they've played them away from home in the last 4 league games. Not good.
- are unbeaten in their previous 3 away league matches.
👥 Head to head
A review of their most recent head to head meetings going back to 29/10/2011 shows us that Southampton have won 3 of them and Middlesbrough 2, with the tally of drawn results being 1.
A combined sum of 15 goals were shared by the two clubs in these games, with 9 for The Saints and 6 being from The Boro. That’s an average goals per game figure of 2.5.
The previous league game featuring these clubs was Championship match day 39 on 29/03/2024 when it ended Southampton 1-1 Middlesbrough.
In that game, Southampton managed 62% possession and 13 attempts at goal with 5 on target. The scorer was Adam Armstrong (12').
At the other end, Middlesbrough had 8 shots on goal with 3 of them on target. Emmanuel Latte Lath (90') scored.
The match was refereed by Matt Donohue.
📰 Team News: Southampton
It’s a low absenteeism rate, with just one fitness concern for the Southampton boss Will Still to contend with due to a largely intact group. Welington (Ankle injury) won’t play.
In all likelihood, The Saints will possibly make use of the 4-2-3-1 system featuring Gavin Bazunu, Mads Roerslev, Joshua Quarshie, Jack Stephens, Ryan Manning, Flynn Downes, Shea Charles, Adam Armstrong, Finn Azaz, Ryan Fraser and Damion Downs.
📰 Team News: Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards has some current player fitness concerns. Darragh Lenihan (Ankle surgery), Matt Targett (Hamstring injury) and Riley McGree (unknown injury) are not ready for selection.
There’s a good chance that The Boro could decide to utilise a 3-4-2-1 formation with a starting lineup of Solomon Brynn, Luke Ayling, Dael Fry, Alfie Jones, Callum Brittain, Aidan Morris, Hayden Hackney, Matthew Targett, Sverre Nypan, Tommy Conway and David Strelec.
💡 Prediction
In our opinion, Middlesbrough could well find it tough to be putting a goal past this Southampton side who we think might well end up scoring and staying ahead.
That’s why we have predicted a very even match with a 1-0 victory for Southampton when the referee blows for full-time.
Let’s see how it plays out.
Renata Leite, 13:05 27/09/2025