Saints vs Boro: Playoff 2nd Leg (12th May - 8pm KO)

[SNSUN]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

reckon there is very little chance of them selling anyone to us in the near future 😃

All that secret scouting down the drain! Well we could bring Targett home, he's not theirs.

[SNSUN]

6 hours ago, Mathamite said:

I'm hoping for a change in formation for this one as we've become too predictable.  Bristol, Ipswich & Boro all stopped us playing out from the back and in particular made it difficult for our 2 wide players to get in the game.  Hence we had to play a lot more long balls usually to an isolated central striker.

I'd sacrifice one of the wide players either for an extra midfield player, like we did for Coventry away, or else play Archer along side a central striker.  Either way we need to get someone much closer to Stewart/Larin so that if we do have to hit long balls we have a chance of winning the ball back further up the field, which will in turn push their press back.

In Tonda we trust.

 

I think we stay the same formation for this one 4231 with only Matsuki if he's fully fit in for Fellows.

I'd be tempted to start Welington over Manning as I'd rather have Manning on later in the game for if we are heading towards penalties and it is because if potential penalties that I'd also rather start Cyle over Ross as I think I'd trust Ross on pens over Cyle.

Though I hope it doesn't go to pens, I'd like to get home before the crack of dawn.

[Willo of Whiteley]

How are we all feeling ahead of this?

Confident? 

[Toadhall Saint]

7 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

How are we all feeling ahead of this?

Confident? 

Yep

[Football Special]

7 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

How are we all feeling ahead of this?

Confident? 

Very much a 50/50 game in my opinion, hard to call how it will go , we can't afford to be as bad as we were first half again 

[Sheaf Saint]

11 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

How are we all feeling ahead of this?

Confident? 

I think we should be. Boro popped their cork in the first half on Saturday. They threw everything they had at us but couldn't score, and despite all their dominance the only real time they carved us open was when Conway hit the post. 

Just gotta do the business within 120 mins ideally, and I'm pretty positive we can with our home advantage.

[sfc4prem]

Not sure how to call this. They roasted us first half. Second we showed they are beatable.

I'm hoping we can put in a solid midfield performance. Reckon Flynn could be back to his best, which is important to us. Thinking that Matsuki could do the business.

[Dr. Kucho]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

How are we all feeling ahead of this?

Confident? 

To be honest not at all confident. I think this spygate has caused all sorts of problems including on the pitch. Even against Arsenal and City we had more shots on target than last Saturday against them.

Really hope I am wrong but just have this bad feeling about tomorrow.

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Dr. Kucho said:

To be honest not at all confident. I think this spygate has caused all sorts of problems including on the pitch. Even against Arsenal and City we had more shots on target than last Saturday against them.

Really hope I am wrong but just have this bad feeling about tomorrow.

We struggle to keep clean sheets these days. I know we did on Sat but that was nothing to do with design.

[bpsaint]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

How are we all feeling ahead of this?

Confident? 

I’ll feel a lot more confident if Cap’n Jack is back, and if Matsuki starts ahead of Fellows.

[saintstowin]

It's a tough game. When we played well on Saturday, albeit briefly, we caused them difficulties. My hope of victory is based on us having lots more moments like we did and our quality winning it for us. But I fully expect them to play well and the typical football outcome will be they'll score with far fewer chances than the first leg. But we can score more.

[Saint NL]

If Scienza turns up then we have every chance. He was well off it on Saturday.

 

[Osvaldorama]

They’re a good side but I’m confident. 
 

They couldn’t beat us when we were playing the worst we’ve played in months. 
So I think we’ll have too much for them at home, if we play anywhere near our best. 

[Zorba]

Edited 15 minutes ago by Zorba

[LGTL]

Nice to actually think about the game…

They’re a good side, with limited bollocks, as proven by their fifth place finish in a two horse race. We can’t afford to not show up again, but an early Saints goal really would set us on our way and calm everyone down. 

Need a big performance from Scienza. He could literally win the tie for us if he wants to. We also need to find a way to stop Boro getting between our lines so easily and feeding their two wide forwards. I’d be tempted to play Charles, Downes and Jander. 

Fully expecting it to be a bit more nervy than the WBA game a few years ago. 

[Football Special]

6 hours ago, EssEffCee said:

You know it'll happen though. And there'll be a bunch who run straight to the away end.

Im actually not sure it will, we've already been to wembley a couple of weeks ago so novelty for that has gone plus as Middlesbrough keep reminding us even a win we can't really celebrate until we've had the verdict on the punishment, they seem very keen to let everyone know they'll keep squad preparation even if we knock them out (inference being we'll be kicked out and they'll take our place) 

Edited 58 minutes ago by Football Special

[Pancake]

10 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

If Scienza turns up then we have every chance. He was well off it on Saturday.

 

Harsh IMHO, he was double marked which kept his impact limited until Stewart came on and freed him up

[HarvSFC]

Dear Kim Hellberg, a friendly reminder that Tonda Eckert took us from 21st to 4th, while you were taking Middlesbrough from 2nd to 5th. 

More spying needed.

[BarberSaint]

On 10/05/2026 at 18:48, whelk said:

We just put old mouldy food and warm beer for refreshments, close most of the toilets as out of order and only have one turnstile open. Give the cunts something to moan about

You mean make it a home game  for them?

[Saint NL]

37 minutes ago, Pancake said:

Harsh IMHO, he was double marked which kept his impact limited until Stewart came on and freed him up

I don't know, he was only interested in cutting inside and trying to curl it into the far corner. 

Hoping he can have a good game tomorrow though 

[madge]

I think Boro blew their opportunity at the weekend. I think we will have the momentum and over the last 5 months we’ve been playing really well. I may be the only one to think we’ll win comfortably 3-0

[Willo of Whiteley]

I feel we should win.

Boro are absolute rattled from board to fans to media to manager.

The fallout and head loss would be phenomenal if they lost.

If we pump them comfortably it’ll be deflection tactics. If it’s a narrow game it’ll be deflection tactics.

Very nervous.

[Toadhall Saint]

One thing I’m sure of is that we need to stop giving Ayling the freedom he had on Sat.