@gt Yes, that was my thought too. It’ll be interesting to see if any action is taken against them. I wouldn’t bet on it.
This is horrendous. If ever we needed an incentive to beat them ………
Get that dressing-room fired up, Kim!
@clive-hurren They’ll probably deduct us 3 points and award Ipswich a penalty!
Could be looking if Hackney is training
That's my bet. Nothing else really matters
If it is true and Soton do beat us and the EFL do nothing..... well SG doesn't much like cheats and might just have one of those Oxo "Remember Preston Derby" moments.
Many thanks for another original and amusing opener Martin - though the parody may have been a bit lost on me as I've never read any of the Jeeves books or even watched the TV series - nevertheless it was very witty in its own right.
I'm head down on a fast-approaching deadline so haven't even thought about tomorrow's game yet and only just remembered last night to sign up for my month's subscription to Now TV to be able to watch the games.
I'll be watching in anticipation rather than genuine hope as Southampton have looked very good in their FA Cup games against very good PL opposition - they look more ready for a return to the PL than Boro but pressure and expectation can skew matters - most pundits give Boro a 20% chance of getting promotion but Boro at their best are a match for any Championship team and let's not forget that 4-0 thrashing of the Saints at the Riverside.
Boro will need to be at their best tomorrow and have their shooting boots on (does Morris possess any?) - I may watch the Hull v Millwall game tonight with my Now TV subscription but I've just predicted a nil-nil in my Exmil play-off challenge so may not be box office...
Apparently a member of Southampton’s staff has been caught watching us training.
If it’s true I reckon they’d be checking on HH
It's basically cheating but I presume nothing will come of it other than a small fine that is dwarfed by the potential millions gained by promotion.
@martin-bellamy - given the financial stakes of going up, a fine would be almost pointless.
IF it can be proven, then I imagine the EFL, who will take eons to come to a decision Will no doubt give them a fine.
To my biased mind, they should forfeit the game and deduct then 3 points next season! Yes I know I am dreaming but the incentive for Boro should be even greater now.
I suspect HH may come on late in the second half ready for a start in the return leg.
I see the odds for our game are all pretty similar for all 3 results, 5/4 for a home win, 21/10 away win and 11/5 for the draw.
As for going up, Soton 15/8, Boro 2/1, Millwall 9/4 and Hull at 6/1 - make of that what you will!
@werdermouth. “only just remembered last night to sign up for my month's subscription to Now TV to be able to watch the games.”
Sorry to hear that Werder as it is available to watch in “Unsold Markets” via Riverside Live; you may have had to visit Belgian for the day. 😉
I did post earlier yesterday that it was available from the Riverside as soon as I picked it up on the club website.
At least you will be able to watch the final if you don’t have sky, just don’t look at who I predicted will be in the final. 😉😎
oh no - I’ve been so busy I hadn’t had time to read the forum so missed your post and assumed it wasn’t part of Boro Live 🙈
Well better watch some PL games this month to get something for my hastily splashed out €40!
Further to Martin's comment about who might score against us Southampton also have Cameron Archer, Nathan Wood, Jack Stephens and Jamie Jones in their squad. Very suprised if Jamie Jones even makes their bench.
Allegedly the Southampton spy was watching our set piece training. Maybe he’d be able to give us a few hints as to how to improve them!
As others have said, a fine just isn’t relevant given the financial reward of attaining promotion. If it’s the Boro who are affected by the breach then somehow we should receive some recompense, but money won’t cut it.
A points deduction for next season won’t be to our advantage, particularly if they achieve promotion. If the EFL mean business they should give us a bye into the final. I know it won’t happen so the risk taken by Southampton was definitely worth it.
@martin-bellamy. A case of crime does pay when the punishment is inadequate, as no doubt it will be in Boro’s case; we can only hope that justice will be done on the pitch. 😎
Allegedly the Southampton spy was watching our set piece training. Maybe he’d be able to give us a few hints as to how to improve them!..
🤣
Well, I will going out in a while and probably won’t get chance to post before I set off tomorrow (not as early as I suspect MW in Darwin will have from Ipswich)to for the drive up for the match so thought I would put a few words of non wisdom on here!
Despite not being too fussed about promotion, I am actually rather excited about the game, there is something special about what is effectively a cup game and I desperately want Boro to come out winners on the day with us plying lovely football and putting the ball in the net without conceding any silly goals.
Surely, Southamptons run of 19 Championship games without defeat must come to an end!
Hopefully, the coaching team have come up with some new set piece moves to completely snooker Southamptons attempt at gaining an advantage and that HH is able to play at least some part of the game.
Think/hope that KH will play his favoured 3 at the back and effectively 3 up front.
UTB
AGAINST THE ODDS.
So can Boro pull off a victory tomorrow when all the odds appear to be against them ?
Southampton are the form team - 19 unbeaten League games. They are the form team of the 4 playoff teams.
In the last 10 games they’ve amassed well over double the points Boro have totalled.
They have fewer injuries to key players than Boro who have missed the best player in the Championship. As an aside, I can’t see Hackney being risked for tomorrow.
Southampton play the second game at home. Only one team in the last 10 years has gone onto secure promotion when playing the first leg at home.
Fewer teams have gained promotion in the last 10 years when finishing 5 th compared to 4th in the League.
So. the obvious answer is either team can win tomorrow. It all depends on which team gets it right for 90 minutes, makes fewer mistakes and shows a bit of flair/ quality when the opportunity arises.
Nearly forgot, Southampton’s trump card - intimate knowledge of how the Boro play from their spy who spied on Boro’s training !!
So here’s hoping we’re all smiles after the end of the game, meaning Boro are still in it.
philip of Huddersfield 👍🤔
Breaking news:
Southampton have been charged by the EFL over allegations of spying on Boro.
So go on, give us a goal’s start!!
Plastered all over the closing remarks in the Beeb's live text commentary on the Hull-Millwall match:
Southampton charged by the EFL
published at 22:02 BST
FT: Hull City 0-0 Millwall
Southampton have been charged by the EFL over allegations of spying on Middlesbrough's training sessions ahead of the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final tomorrow.
The EFL have released this statement:
Southampton Football Club has today been charged with a breach of EFL Regulations, and the matter will be referred to an Independent Disciplinary Commission.
This follows a request from the EFL for the Club’s observations after a complaint from Middlesbrough relating to alleged unauthorised filming on private property ahead of the two Clubs meeting in Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg.
The charges relate to the following Regulations:
- EFL Regulation 3.4, which requires Clubs to act towards each other with the utmost good faith; and
- EFL Regulation 127, which prohibits any Club from observing, or attempting to observe, another Club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match between the two Clubs.
Under EFL Regulations, Southampton would ordinarily have 14 days to respond to the charges. However, given the nature of the matter, the EFL will ask the Independent Disciplinary Commission to shorten the response period and to list a hearing at the earliest opportunity.
The League will make no further comment whilst proceedings are ongoing.
On the apparent change in the spelling of Josh Coburn's surname, does anyone else remember the old TV adverts for Cockburn's port which played on the fact that the "ck" wasn't pronounced?
@stircrazy And Teesside Live wrote: "Given the magnitude of the match that Southampton are alleged to have spied before, Boro are pushing for the toughest possible sanction, which could even be an expulsion from the play-offs altogether."
I suspect Southampton will say the person was acting on his own and they will sack him - trying to save the club from any hard sanctions now.
Pity, that they spied and cheated. Now all the attention is on the wrong things. This should be a sporting fiesta. Boro and the fans should be the focus (no pun intended at Ford).
Up the Boro!
I do in the late sixties. A gentleman with a very smooth voice saying,"One doesn't say Cock, one says Co".
UTB,
John
Hopefully a visit by Boro 3 today, that would be very enjoyable indeed. However I can see them scoring too...
Thursdays list to the Consultant was good news and my next visit is in five months. He was delighted with my progress and two glasses of draught Guinness were very much enjoyed that evening.
All the best everyone.
UTB,
John
@clive-hurren. Punishment needs to fit the crime Clive, at least four goals start!😉😎
Fantastic news, John, which will make today's game all the more enjoyable. Best wishes.
Just read this comment on the BBC...
Punishment for Southampton for spying is to have to watch the next Milwall vs Hull game
Sounds quite harsh but thankfully I opted against watching last night's game after predicting in the Exmil challenge it would be nil-nil.
Be interesting to see what punishment the EFL see fit - perhaps it may depend on what today's result is and they could opt to even up the contest for Tuesday if Southampton were to win.
I can understand a young footballer not wanting to risk opposition supporter abuse by having Cock burn on the back of their shirt - though not sure about the replica sales either...
If Saints (Ha! The irony!) are found guilty, I hope they’ll get a minimum 6 points’ deduction for next season, whatever league they’re in. And I expect Steve Gibson to insist on his pound of flesh, as he did with Derby - let’s say at least a couple of million quid as compensation.