Southampton have huge Middlesbrough advantage - it’s only happened once under Tonda Eckert | OneFootball

Southampton have one major advantage over Middlesbrough ahead of the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final clash

Southampton and Middlesbrough are battling each other for a place in the Championship play-off final on Tuesday evening.

The Saints and Boro played out a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their semi-final clash at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday, and Tonda Eckert's men now have home advantage for the second leg.

Kim Hellberg's men hammered Southampton 4-0 back in January, which was their final meeting of the regular season, but couldn't demonstrate that sort of goalscoring prowess on Saturday as Tommy Conway notably passed up a series of inviting opportunities.

Meanwhile, Saturday's first leg between the North East outfit and the South Coast club was overshadowed by the fact that the Saints have been charged by the EFL for spying on a Boro training session.

The saga is continuing to play out behind the scenes while creating a tantalising storyline for the two-legged semi-final, with so much more now on the lines for both sides in pursuit of promotion to the Premier League.

Key Tonda Eckert statistic spells trouble for Middlesbrough ahead of play-off visit to Southampton

Eckert has been one of the best managers in the Championship this season, as he did a remarkable job to steer Southampton to a fourth-place finish despite their poor start to the season under former boss Will Still.

When the Saints sacked Still in November, they sat 21st in the second tier, and some supporters may have feared a second consecutive relegation.

However, Eckert has reinstalled Southampton's chances of securing an immediate Premier League return, even though they finished four points shy of automatic promotion.

In contrast to the Saints' rise up the Championship table, Middlesbrough previously led Coventry City in the title race, but instead settled for a fifth-place finish after giving up ground in the latter stages of the season.

Both Southampton and Boro won 80 points in the second tier this season, but Eckert's side will enjoy home advantage in the second leg of their play-off semi-final clash, thanks to their marginally better goal difference.

Home advantage is particularly key for the St Mary's Stadium club, as they have only suffered a home defeat once since Eckert replaced Still in the dugout.

That defeat came against Hull City all the way back in January, while the Saints didn't lose anywhere again until being beaten 2-1 by Manchester City in last month's FA Cup semi-final.

Southampton's defeat against Pep Guardiola's men came despite the fact they established a 1-0 lead in the 79th minute.

Eckert's side have recovered from their Wembley heartbreak well, though, enjoying a three-game unbeaten run, including their play-off semi-final draw with Boro.

The Saints are now firmly in the driving seat having come away from Middlesbrough with a draw, knowing that they are incredibly strong at home, something which even Premier League leaders Arsenal learned in the FA Cup.

Middlesbrough's away record is strong - But Southampton should still have the upper hand at St Mary's Stadium

Only Coventry and Ipswich Town, who both earned automatic promotion to the Premier League, have won more points on home soil than Southampton in the Championship this season.

Furthermore, two of the home defeats the Saints suffered in the second tier this term came under Still, adding further proof to how strong they have been at St Mary's Stadium under Eckert.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough boast the third-best away record in the Championship this campaign, with only Millwall and champions Coventry earning more points on their travels.

However, Boro earned 38 points away from home this term, which is fewer than the 44 managed by Southampton at St Mary's Stadium, giving Eckert's men the upper hand.

The Championship play-offs are incredibly difficult to predict, but the season's evidence suggests that the Saints should book their place in the play-off final on Tuesday.