The worrying Southampton trend that could give Middlesbrough huge play-off semi-final edge | OneFootball

Southampton may have the momentum in the play-offs, but they have yet to beat any of their fellow play-off sides this season

Southampton have been exceptional in the second half of the Championship season, and many critics see only one winner in the upcoming play-offs.

The Saints were promoted two years ago at Wembley, and will take on Middlesbrough over two legs, on Saturday at the Riverside and then next Tuesday at St Mary's, in an attempt to return there on May 23.

And it wouldn't be the first time this season they have graced the home of English football either, as they went toe-to-toe with Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals in late April.

Indeed, that 2-1 defeat to the eight-time Premier League champions is the only loss Tonda Eckert's side has suffered in their last 23 games in all competitions, which included a win over the current top-flight leaders Arsenal, too, in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

The Saints enter the play-offs unbeaten in 19 Championship games, having last tasted defeat back in January. With the quality within the side and the momentum they are on, it looks like a second consecutive play-off final victory is theirs to lose, but their record against the other three play-off teams may suggest otherwise.

Southampton haven't beaten Middlesbrough, Millwall or Hull City this season

When creating a mini-table based on the four Championship play-off sides' records against each other this season, it's pretty even between Hull City, Middlesbrough, and Millwall. The Tigers lead the way with 12 points from a possible 18, and both Kim Hellberg and Alex Neil's sides have 10 points.

However, Southampton have registered just two points in their six games this season against their fellow play-off sides, those coming in the form of draws against a Middlesbrough side managed by Rob Edwards in November and against Millwall on New Year's Day.

Hull were the only team to do the league double over Southampton, beating them 3-1 at St Mary's in September and 2-1 at the MKM Stadium on January 17 — the last time Tonda Eckert's side lost a league game.

While the 19-game unbeaten run to end the season was impressive, it came off the back of a draw and two defeats against the three sides who finished in the play-offs alongside them.

Southampton may have beaten Coventry City at the CBS Arena and came within minutes of beating Ipswich Town in their penultimate game of the season, but their record against the other top sides in the second tier leaves a lot to be desired.

Kim Hellberg's Middlesbrough blew away Tonda Eckert's Southampton in their only league meeting this season

While Hull got the better of Southampton twice this season, and Millwall took four points off the Saints this year, it's important right now to focus on Middlesbrough, who stand in the way of a play-off final for Tonda Eckert's side.

Their meeting at St Mary's in September was played under completely different circumstances, as both Will Still and Rob Edwards were in the dugout for that 1-1 draw on the south coast.

But, back in January at the Riverside, it was Kim Hellberg vs Tonda Eckert, and the Swedish boss got the better of his counterpart, and some.

'Hellball' was on full display that day, as his side netted four goals in 22 second-half minutes to win 4-0, a result that, at the time, shot Middlesbrough back into the top two and left Southampton 15th.

It's an understatement to say a lot has changed since then, and Southampton's vast improvement over the four months since will make this almost a completely different meeting.

But, Boro will take confidence that they have beaten the Saints in such a dominant manner before, and if they can get it right on Saturday at the Riverside and produce a similar performance, a highly-anticipated play-off bout may be all but over at the halfway stage.