Boro vs Saints next Saturday (12.30pm) 1st leg

[Saint_clark]

2 hours ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

I’ve got 20 aways - what you reckon my chances are ?

Almost guaranteed I'd have thought.

[goodymatt]

Boro fans seem to think playing us over 2 legs is better for them than a one off game. Thoughts?

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

7 hours ago, Football Special said:

Fair play to MIddlesbrough for their prices, really good to see. 

Yes. Weren't Leeds charging £48 per ticket two years ago?

Lots of confidence among Saintswebers. Personally, I am concerned about us being too complacent. Yes, we are probably favourites to beat Boro over two legs but we got thumped in January when Tonda was in charge and that team was practically the same as the one we'll put out on Saturday (other than Baz was in goal, and that twat Armstrong was leading the line). 

Hoping we impose our superiority early and go after them. If we do, we can do a Wrexham & Charlton on them.

 

[Dark Munster]

23 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Yes, we are probably favourites to beat Boro over two legs but we got thumped in January when Tonda was in charge and that team was practically the same as the one we'll put out on Saturday (other than Baz was in goal, and that twat Armstrong was leading the line). 

Hoping we impose our superiority early and go after them. If we do, we can do a Wrexham & Charlton on them.

 

Five at the back, no Bree, Larin or Ross. As you mentioned, a midget up front and that useless hologram in goal.

On top of that we are on a 19 league match unbeaten run. Our current team would probably beat that team above 5-0.

[Lord Duckhunter]

31 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Boro fans seem to think playing us over 2 legs is better for them than a one off game. Thoughts?

It depends whether they think they’re a better side or not. The best side will win over 2 legs pretty much all the time. 
 

Sheffield Utd won 16 more points than Sunderland (had 2 deducted), outplayed them for all but about 15mins of the play off final, and somehow lost. Had that been over 2 legs, they’d have beaten them. No bother…

So are they saying 2 legs are better because their quality will overcome us and there’s less likely to be a freak result, or is it some sort of weird logic that the best way to beat a better side, is to play them twice…

[Willo of Whiteley]

I fancy us to win at Wembley if we get there, players that have played there before can make all the difference.

Boro at home I fancy us, away I’m not so sure.

[Dark Munster]

2 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

It depends whether they think they’re a better side or not. The best side will win over 2 legs pretty much all the time. 
 

Sheffield Utd won 16 more points than Sunderland (had 2 deducted), outplayed them for all but about 15mins of the play off final, and somehow lost. Had that been over 2 legs, they’d have beaten them. No bother…

So are they saying 2 legs are better because their quality will overcome us and there’s less likely to be a freak result, or is it some sort of weird logic that the best way to beat a better side, is to play them twice…

I think many of them are overconfident because of their 4-0 thrashing of us earlier in the season. If so, they are probably in for a rude awakening.

[pimpin4rizeal]

On 02/05/2026 at 21:08, Turkish said:

 Nah it’s not a one off game, we won’t win it there but we can lose it by giving ourselves too much to do at SMS. Keep it tight, be compact, hit them on the break we can do that really well as we showed against Arsenal and Man City. A win would be brilliant but a draw or even one goal loss and I’d fancy us at home against anyone 

Kinda disagree, our massive unbeaten run is obviously no fluke, don’t see why we should change anything and turn it into a cagey couple of games .. we are in way better form then boro might as well just play our normal game and hopefully  go into the second leg with a couple of goal advantage 

Edited Sunday at 21:10 by pimpin4rizeal

[Dr Who?]

On 02/05/2026 at 16:09, musesaint said:

Weirdly I feel far more confident about the Playoffs this season than I did two years ago. We can win at Wembley - and should win tbh. We are the form team by a mile  

If we don’t go up we’re definitely at risk of losing some key players.  Says a lot about the quality of parts of the team we have this season compared to a couple of years ago. 

I’m the opposite. I was very confident about the playoffs last time. This time I just cannot shake the feeling we are going to come up short and turn to crap, like the last time we were at Boro. I think this comes from the fact that I cannot even work out for the life of me how we got here! Bury them and I might start to believe! 

[Turkish]

13 minutes ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Kinda disagree, our massive unbeaten run is obviously no fluke, don’t see why we should change anything and turn it into a cagey couple of games .. we are in way better form then boro might as well just play our normal game and hopefully  go into the second leg with a couple of goal advantage 

Because it’s knock out football And we need to play the games not the occasions. Boro are a decent side, to me setting up when we play up there like we did against arsenal And city makes perfect sense. Compact and tight and hit them on the break it worked brilliantly against both of them for a game and 80 minutes, we lost against city to a deflection and unbelievable strike. Anyway whatever we think Tonda has proven he knows better than all of us. Whatever happens we need to defend well and take our chances tactics and formations are irrelevant if we don’t do that. Home game is different we will dominate the ball and I’d expect us to win at home but we don’t want to make our lives hard By being too hung hoo or dare I say it arrogant and think we can just turn up and win

Edited Sunday at 21:24 by Turkish

[SouthWalesSaints]

2 hours ago, Dark Munster said:

Five at the back, no Bree, Larin or Ross. As you mentioned, a midget up front and that useless hologram in goal.

On top of that we are on a 19 league match unbeaten run. Our current team would probably beat that team above 5-0.

People forget the chances we missed at 0-0 we were in total cruise control until they scored on 60 (ish) mins.  Wasn’t a four nil game, we had a literal clown in goal. 

[SouthWalesSaints]

20 minutes ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Kinda disagree, our massive unbeaten run is obviously no fluke, don’t see why we should change anything and turn it into a cagey couple of games .. we are in way better form then boro might as well just play our normal game and hopefully  go into the second leg with a couple of goal advantage 

It’s not changing though is it? 
 

Fulham, Arsenal, Coventry we’ve done exactly the same. 

[pimpin4rizeal]

19 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Because it’s knock out football And we need to play the games not the occasions. Boro are a decent side, to me setting up when we play up there like we did against arsenal And city makes perfect sense. Compact and tight and hit them on the break it worked brilliantly against both of them for a game and 80 minutes, we lost against city to a deflection and unbelievable strike. Anyway whatever we think Tonda has proven he knows better than all of us. Whatever happens we need to defend well and take our chances tactics and formations are irrelevant if we don’t do that. Home game is different we will dominate the ball and I’d expect us to win at home but we don’t want to make our lives hard By being too hung hoo or dare I say it arrogant and think we can just turn up and win

I do agree with you we play well on the break tbh, but at the same time we are the form team with the better players and majority of the squad are all buzzing and playing well, we have arguably been better away from home of late. I’d expect us to smash boro if this was a league game but yeah I’m sure tonda will get it right 

Edited Sunday at 21:38 by pimpin4rizeal

[AlexLaw76]

9 hours ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

I do agree with you we play well on the break tbh, but at the same time we are the form team with the better players and majority of the squad are all buzzing and playing well, we have arguably been better away from home of late. I’d expect us to smash boro if this was a league game but yeah I’m sure tonda will get it right 

“Smash” Boro?

what are you on?

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

I think both games will be tight. I'd be fine with Tonda setting up as we did in the FA Cup games.

Also keeping the players grounded and focused is key. Like in the games against Coventry and Norwich. 

Also need Downes not to get too worked up.

Edited 20 hours ago by JohnnyShearer2.0

[Badger]

12 hours ago, Dark Munster said:

Five at the back, no Bree, Larin or Ross. As you mentioned, a midget up front and that useless hologram in goal.

On top of that we are on a 19 league match unbeaten run. Our current team would probably beat that team above 5-0.

And starting Quarshie last match as well. Don’t think that’ll happen this time. 

[Badger]

12 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I fancy us to win at Wembley if we get there, players that have played there before can make all the difference.

Boro at home I fancy us, away I’m not so sure.

Had read that their away form has been a strength this season, but having checked it’s much the same as ours over the season 

[Turkish]

2 hours ago, Badger said:

Had read that their away form has been a strength this season, but having checked it’s much the same as ours over the season 

I read it’s better than their home form but I think their home form isn’t great. I watched them against Millwall and they were brilliant first half, should have been 3 or 4 up ended up losing 2-1 somehow. It’s going to be a tough couple of games. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

I don't get to away games, but that allocation is an absolute joke. I hope we replicate that and give them the same number. 

[SaintBobby]

Am I right there is no VAR for the play-off semis but there is for the final?

Edited 17 hours ago by SaintBobby

[skintsaint]

5 minutes ago, Turkish said:

I read it’s better than their home form but I think their home form isn’t great. I watched them against Millwall and they were brilliant first half, should have been 3 or 4 up ended up losing 2-1 somehow. It’s going to be a tough couple of games. 

Last 10 games they have been dreadful really. Hope they carry on that form.

 

https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/championship/form-guide/ten

[pimpin4rizeal]

4 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

“Smash” Boro?

what are you on?

Not sure what you mean we have been tearing up the league and still finished higher then them from miles behind . Our form and squad is on a different planet whilst theirs is mediocre . They should be fearing us not the other way around I’d be disappointed with a draw at their place personally we are clearly superior to them at this point 

[AlexLaw76]

7 minutes ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Not sure what you mean we have been tearing up the league and still finished higher then them from miles behind . Our form and squad is on a different planet whilst theirs is mediocre . They should be fearing us not the other way around I’d be disappointed with a draw at their place personally we are clearly superior to them at this point 

Yeah, drawing at home to Bristol City was 'tearing up the league'

It is going to be very tough to get past Boro, who are a very good side.

[OldNick]

I wonder if we bench Azaz for the game there as he is something their fanbase and perhpas team will feed off

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, OldNick said:

I wonder if we bench Azaz for the game there as he is something their fanbase and perhpas team will feed off

unless he is injured, he will be one, if not the first, names on the team sheet.

Ridiculous idea to 'bench' one of our best players in a big game

Edited 16 hours ago by AlexLaw76

[OldNick]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

unless he is injured, he will be one, if not the first, names on the team sheet.

Ridiculous idea to 'bench' one of our best players in a big game

Depends what you call ridiculous, IMO he could be a catalyst for the fans to get even more up for. Last time they kicked him a bit and so keep him for the home leg perhaps

[EssEffCee]

32 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I don't get to away games, but that allocation is an absolute joke. I hope we replicate that and give them the same number. 

Why is it a joke? Do you think they should give us more than they have to instead of selling them to their own fans?

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, OldNick said:

Depends what you call ridiculous, IMO he could be a catalyst for the fans to get even more up for. Last time they kicked him a bit and so keep him for the home leg perhaps

Benching arguably our best player in a massive game - yeah, ridiculous 

Edited 16 hours ago by AlexLaw76

[Turkish]

1 minute ago, OldNick said:

Depends what you call ridiculous, IMO he could be a catalyst for the fans to get even more up for. Last time they kicked him a bit and so keep him for the home leg perhaps

Great idea Leo gets kicked a bit too so let’s bench him as well 

[EssEffCee]

I've seen some batshit takes on here this season but benching Azaz for this game is right up there.

[AlexLaw76]

Matt Targett used to play for us, hope they bench him 

[OldNick]

2 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

I've seen some batshit takes on here this season but benching Azaz for this game is right up there.

time will tell

[Cabrone]

I'd try and get an early goal, see if we can exploit their brittle confidence and induce a wobble.

The 4-0 was a different era, this team is confident and has been recently battle tested in knock out conditions against top quality opposition. Also we still have players that remember winning the playoffs 2 years ago, that's worth a lot.

We need to show them respect, they are dangerous, but if we play at our best we should have the edge over 2 legs.

[OldNick]

4 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Great idea Leo gets kicked a bit too so let’s bench him as well 

There is a lot of hatred aimed at Finn up there, its not like the usual dislike. If you are old enough you may recall our hatred for John Bailey and how we reacted to him, certainly changed the game that day. Although funnily enough it was the rest of his team that wilted not him

[OldNick]

5 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

I've seen some batshit takes on here this season but benching Azaz for this game is right up there.

Perhaps you should read some of your own posts lol

[AlexLaw76]

2 minutes ago, OldNick said:

Perhaps you should read some of your own posts lol

They'll boo him, throw choice words at him and that will be that.

If they win and/or he has a bad game, he will get jeered a bit more.

[EssEffCee]

Typical that for once the tickets haven't gone on sale early.

[EssEffCee]

Sorted. Absolutely shit loads blocked out, proper piss take.

[RedArmy]

8 minutes ago, OldNick said:

There is a lot of hatred aimed at Finn up there, its not like the usual dislike. 

Why? They were happy to get rid of him at the time because he “goes missing in the big games” 

Seems like their fans are thick as some of ours when it comes to Azaz. 

 

[EssEffCee]

 

I assume the left hand block and right hand two are held back for selling order reasons but that's still a massive amount to not be given to the regular supporters.

Be interesting to see if any of those areas go on sale later in the process.

Edited 16 hours ago by EssEffCee

[Lee On Solent Saint]

21 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

Why is it a joke? Do you think they should give us more than they have to instead of selling them to their own fans?

That's not the point I was trying to make. It will however be a joke if we give them over three thousand 

[EssEffCee]

Just now, Lee On Solent Saint said:

That's not the point I was trying to make. It will however be a joke if we give them over three thousand 

Yeah I hope we leave them empty, the potential advantage outweighs the lost income for me.

[Badger]

18 minutes ago, OldNick said:

There is a lot of hatred aimed at Finn up there, its not like the usual dislike. If you are old enough you may recall our hatred for John Bailey and how we reacted to him, certainly changed the game that day. Although funnily enough it was the rest of his team that wilted not him

For all the animosity that was thrown at him, it didn’t affect his game in the 1984 SF. 
 

Didn’t Azaz have a good first half there in the league match, then saw the team fall apart in the second ? 

Edited 16 hours ago by Badger

[Badger]

27 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

Why is it a joke? Do you think they should give us more than they have to instead of selling them to their own fans?

What is the usual league allocation there out of interest if anyone knows ?

If 2,000 is the minimum allowed then agree with others that’s what we should give for the second leg. 

[EssEffCee]

1 minute ago, Badger said:

What is the usual league allocation there out of interest if anyone knows ?

If 2,000 is the minimum allowed then agree with others that’s what we should give for the second leg. 

We got 2116 in January so it's basically the same. Not sure how or why we got 2 extra tickets this time lol.

[LGTL]

2 minutes ago, Badger said:

What is the usual league allocation there out of interest if anyone knows ?

If 2,000 is the minimum allowed then agree with others that’s what we should give for the second leg. 

The rules stipulate 10% of capacity or 2000, whatever is lower. 

In league games clubs tend to be a bit more generous if they don’t sell out, which Boro rarely do. For this game, they will sell out though, hence the 2000. 

[Badger]

Just now, EssEffCee said:

We got 2116 in January so it's basically the same. Not sure how or why we got 2 extra tickets this time lol.

Raises the question why we allow 3,000 for league games in the Championship. Presumably the new away section is less flexible than when housing it in Northam/Itchen corner 

[Graffito]

16 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

 

I assume the left hand block and right hand two are held back for selling order reasons but that's still a massive amount to not be given to the regular supporters.

Be interesting to see if any of those areas go on sale later in the process.

That’s really disappointing. Removing so many tickets before they go on sale undermines the qualifying criteria they have in place. I’d like much more transparency about how these greyed out seats are allocated.

[EssEffCee]

8 minutes ago, Badger said:

Raises the question why we allow 3,000 for league games in the Championship. Presumably the new away section is less flexible than when housing it in Northam/Itchen corner 

Yeah it looks like it wasn't considered when moving the away end.

Wouldn't have made a huge difference mind given there's been very few home sell outs.

[EssEffCee]

8 minutes ago, Graffito said:

That’s really disappointing. Removing so many tickets before they go on sale undermines the qualifying criteria they have in place. I’d like much more transparency about how these greyed out seats are allocated.

It's definitely increased this season how many are going. Something for fans forum maybe if anyone's going.

Edited 15 hours ago by EssEffCee