Middlesbrough FC 0 Southampton 0: Boro fail to plot win in Spygate tie despite relentless first half

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a ‘W’ for win as far as Middlesbrough are concerned.

It should have been, given Boro’s rousing first-half performance, a combination of passion play on an emotive day with some real quality in open play.

As has been their wont this spring, especially on home soil, they couldn’t find that killer blow in front of goal. Same old, same old.

Southampton hung on grimly, scarcely able to believe their luck. The second half was a different story and they went close to nicking it in the final quarter on two occasions.

Still all square then, heading into Tuesday evening. Saints will certainly be happier.

At the final whistle, a ‘cheating’ themed chant from Boro supporters among a 32,045 crowd sent Saints players and fans on their way. A counter-cry of ‘We’ll spy when we want’ followed from the away end - alongside boos from home punters.

The row had completely overshadowed what was a juicy looking football tie.

A sea of red smoke and fervour greeted home players after they were bused into the Riverside in mid-morning. Southampton players got pelters in comparison when they arrived.

New rules in the wake of Spy-gate 1.0 - which centred on the conduct of Leeds United ahead of an infamous fixture against Derby County in 2019 - now expressively prohibit clubs from viewing opponents training in the 72 hours immediately prior to a fixture, unless invited to do so.

It’s fair to say there was no invite from Teesside to Rockliffe Park on Thursday, with it now being all about the outcome following the governing body’s charge and Southampton’s acknowledgement of it.

Punishments range from fines, points deductions, transfer embargoes and removal from competitions, according to the EFL handbook.

That will arrive in due course.

But what about the first instalment of one of the spiciest play-off match-ups in years, stirred up by those distasteful Saints events ahead of it.

Speaking beforehand, Boro boss Kim Hellberg struck the right tone. "We've done everything in the right way and hope to win in a fair way”, he succinctly said.

While star Hayden Hackney was spotted on the team bus beforehand, there was no seat reserved for him on the bench. Boro made one change with Riley McGree coming in for Alan Browne.

Saints, who rested several of their A-team in their final hit-out of the regular season at Preston, made five changes. Ex-Boro man Finn Azaz returned, alongside Cyle Larin, James Bree, Flynn Downes and Ryan Manning. Their bench also possessed a formidable look.

With home supporters getting into Southampton’s players ahead of kick-off, it was up to those in red to turn up the heat on the pitch. They duly did that, but it was a familiar spring tale at the Riverside for Boro in the opening half.

They wholly dominated an opponent. In many respects, it was a 0-0 battering, but they couldn’t find a goal or two through a mixture of poor finishing and a bit of bad luck.

Boro boasted 37 touches in their opponents box, whereas the Saints had none.

The hosts had 17 goal attempts with four on target. Saints had zilch on both counts.

But the scoreline was nice for those from Hampshire and for Boro, there was the realisation that the visitors surely couldn’t be any worse on the restart.

The bad luck for Boro saw Tommy Conway drive against the post after being set up by Riley McGree, who cashed in on an error from Larin.

Before that, Conway should have done better after Morgan Whittaker manufactured a chance adeptly on the right. Instead of hitting it first time at the far post, he waited and James Bree made a terrific block.

McGree - who prodded an early shot across the face of goal - was impressive as were Whittaker and Conway. Others too, such as Luke Ayling, who went close with a swerving shot - and Callum Brittain. But no goal, maddeningly.

If the post and weak finishing didn’t thwart them, Saints keeper Daniel Peretz did.

He made one important block from close in to deny Conway and also did well to turn away a low drive from ex-Saint Matt Targett.

After a no-show in the first period, the visitors made the most of the fact that they weren’t behind at the break and showed more intent in the early part of the second half than they did in virtually all of the first.

A chance - and a pretty decent one at that - arrived when Larin headed over following Tom Fellows cross from the right.

Boro continued to do nice things. Yet still no breakthrough and the onslaught died down from a Saints perspective. Danger man Leo Scienza was also showing signs of coming into the game.

Boro’s intensity levels dropped on the restart, despite enjoying a fair bit of the ball once more.

The main action was towards the other goal and this time the woodwork saved Boro when Taylor Harwood-Bellis’s bullet header hit the bar following Ryan Manning’s free-kick.

Boro were hanging on a bit, all of a sudden with substitute Samuel Edozie missing a big chance on the counter for the visitors late on.

Middlesbrough: Brynn; Brittain, Ayling, Fry, Malanda, Brittain, Morris, McGree (Browne 68), Targett; Whittaker (Sarmiento 79), Conway, Strelec (Castledine 79). Substitutes unused: Wildsmith, Gilbert, Silvera, Hansen, Ibeh, Hunt.

Southampton: Peretz; Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Manning; Downes (Charles 69), Jander; Fellows (Matsuki 69), Azaz, Scienza (Edozie 86); Larin (Stewart 60). Substitutes unused: Long, Quarshie, Welington, Bragg, Archer.

Referee: F Hallam (Surrey).

Attendance: 32,045