Middlesbrough held by Southampton to set up decisive second leg | OneFootball

Middlesbrough had the better of the game against Southampton in the play-off semi-final first leg but couldn't find a winner.

There was plenty of interest going into this game especially with controversy over alleged 'spying' by a Saints staff member. However, the home side were dominant in the first half and should have taken the lead.

Boro had 17 attempts with Southampton not mustering a single effort in the first 45 minutes with Riley McGree finding Tommy Conway whose effort bounced off the post.

The visitors did improve in the second half and had chances late on to take a lead back down south.

With the game in its final moments Ryan Manning sent in a freekick that Taylor Harwood-Bellis got his head to but the ball bounced off the bar.

Then just a few minutes later Ross Stewart found Samuel Edozie through the middle. Edozie had just come onto the pitch which maybe why he managed to see a great opportunity go just wide.

A goalless scoreline means there's everything to play for in the second leg at St Mary's to see who books a place in the play-off final.

Incidents: The story of the match

Middlesbrough Official Line-ups:

Sol Brynn, Luke Ayling, Callum Brittain, Dael Fry, Adilson Malanda, Matt Targett, Riley McGree, Aidan Morris, Morgan Whittaker, Dávid Strelec, Tommy Conway

Southampton Official Line-ups:

Daniel Peretz, James Bree, Nathan Wood, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ryan Manning, Finn Azaz, Caspar Jander, Flynn Downes, Tom Fellows, Léo Scienza, Cyle Larin

1':

The match begins

998':

The referee whistles for the end of the match