Middlesbrough vs Southampton Prediction: Goals expected at the Riverside

Certainly the more glamorous Championship play-off semi-final on paper, Middlesbrough host Southampton at the Riverside this Saturday (12:30 BST, Sky Sports Main Event) in what looks to be a mouth-watering first leg.

Below you can find my Middlesbrough vs Southampton predictions featuring betting tips and more.

Team News

Hayden Hackney is unlikely to make an appearance over these two semi-final ties, with his fitness still an issue. He hasn’t played since 14 March and his absence coincided with Boro’s slide down the table. 

"Hayden is progressing, he's getting better every day," Kim Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees.

"Riley (McGree) is ready to go. There's competition for him, but he's ready."

McGree should start in the final third, with Morgan Whittaker likely to feature on the right of a front three. Tommy Conway or David Strelec will lead the line, although both started against Wrexham on the final day. 

All eyes will be on Southampton’s Finn Azaz, who came in for a lot of stick in his last game against his former club. He should start as the number 10 behind Cyle Larin, while star man Leo Scienza will play on the left wing, with Tom Fellows on the opposite flank. 

Jack Stephens is fit against and could replace Nathan Wood, while Flynn Downes has served a three-match suspension and is available as a midfield option.

Football Odds

Middlesbrough vs Southampton Odds

Southampton are the favourites to progress from this tie at 8/11, with Middlesbrough 1/1 to make it to Wembley. For the first leg, Middlesbrough are the 5/4 favourites to win, a draw is 12/5 and an away win is 21/10. 

Whittaker is the 11/2 favourite to score first, while there are also several Price Boosts which you can find using the link above. 

Today's Football Fixtures

Both teams to score in both halves @ 12/1

“That’s not the way we approach games, and it never has been,” Saints boss Tonda Eckert said, when asked whether his side would play for a draw.

“At no part of the season has that ever been our approach, to draw a game, so we will go there to win. We will do everything to win the game, and then we will see where we stand.”

Southampton have scored 82 goals this season, more goals than anybody in the Championship aside from Coventry (97). They have some of the best attackers in the league, while Boro’s chance creation has been good all season, and they’ve scored 10 in their last four outings. 

This should be a cracking encounter, so let’s back both teams to score in both halves at a big price. 

Price Boost - Leo Scienza to assist a goal @ 5/1

One of the best players in the Championship this season, Scienza has not only torn apart Championship full-backs, but he was the star as Saints dumped Arsenal out of the FA Cup. He’s going to have a big role in this tie, and having bagged seven goals and 10 assists this term, I think he can create something again. 

We should get plenty of goals from both teams, and if we do, then Scienza is likely to set up one of the Southampton strikes. Betfred have Price Boosted this to 5/1, so let’s take advantage of that offer. 

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