Kim Hellberg cools Spygate talk as Southampton and Middlesbrough await November reunion | OneFootball

Kim Hellberg struck a calmer tone on last season’s Spygate row as the Championship fixtures were released, with Middlesbrough to face Southampton on 28 November.

"Of course it was. It was a special last weeks of the season, with ups and downs and absolutely everything." He told Sky Sports News.

"But you also have to use it as fuel and as a strength going into this season. We know that we were close."

Middlesbrough were handed another chance of promotion after Southampton were expelled from the playoffs, then lost the Wembley final to Hull City. The episode had hurt Hellberg, though his latest comments were more subdued.

The first South Coast Derby lands on 10 October, and Leo Scienza has already highlighted it on social media. Meetings between Southampton and Middlesbrough will undoubtedly be ill-tempered, with a March return at the Riverside potentially pivotal. Tonda Eckert might still be barred from the dugout by an FA ban, which could take some edge off.

Source: Sainstmarching.com