SOU vs MID
Match Centre
SOU vs MID As It Happened
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
- Sofiane Boufal fires Saints to victory
- The Moroccan's stunner was enough to edge Boro 1-0
- Claude Puel's side climb into the top half
- Another clean sheet for Saints at home
Puel's post-match interview
Watch as Claude Puel discusses Southampton's win over Middlesbrough.
17.44FULL TIME: Southampton 1-0 Middlesbrough
It's a big win for Saints, who bounce back from Europa League disappointment, thanks to Sofiane Boufal's stunning second-half strike.
16.06Rodriguez goes so close
Brilliant work from Nathan Redmond to win the ball down the left, before centering for the sliding Jay Rodriguez, but the ball flicks off his outstretched leg and goes over from close range.
Long denied by Barragán
Nathan Redmond slips a nice ball in behind, but Antonio Barragán slides in just as Shane Long is about to shoot, diverting the ball away.
Southampton substitution: Shane Long replaces Jordy Clasie
It's a final change of the afternoon for Claude Puel's side.
Boufal celebrates his stunning strike
Sofiane Boufal celebrates in front of the Saints fans after his earlier goal.
Off the line!
So close to a second for Saints, as Jay Rodriguez meets James Ward-Prowse's corner, but his thumping header is cleared off the line by Adam Forshaw.
Middlesbrough substitution: Adama Traoré replaces Cristhian Stuani
A first change of the afternoon for the visitors.
Yellow Card for Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough)
A foul on Jordy Clasie sees Clayton join the long list of players in the book.
Chance for Davis
Steven Davis, who has only just come on as a substitute, gets on the end of a superb Cuco Martina cross, but he gets under the ball and heads it over.
Southampton substitution: Steven Davis replaces Sofiane Boufal
Goalscorer Boufal gets a standing ovation, as he's replaced.
Yellow Card for Oriol Romeu (Southampton)
Another yellow card, as Oriol Romeu earns a caution for a late tackle on Adam Forshaw.
Yellow Card for José Fonte (Southampton)
Fonte is the latest player cautioned after tripping Cristhian Stuani.
A stunning strike from Boufal!
A superb left-footed shot from Sofiane Boufal swerves into the top corner from 20 yards to put Saints in front! Get in!
GOOOAL!!!
Sofiane Boufal (52’) | 1 – 0
Yellow Card for Adam Forshaw (Middlesbrough)
The Boro player pulls back Sofiane Boufal and gets a caution.
Rhodes fires over from distance
A glimpse of an opening for the visitors, but Jordan Rhodes shoots over the bar from 25 yards.
Boufal threatens for Saints
Cuco Martina's deep cross picks out Nathan Redmond, who nods it back into the path of Sofiane Boufal, but ex-Saints defender Calum Chambers does well to block his side-footed effort.
We're back under way!
Sofiane Boufal gets the action restarted at St Mary's. Come on, Saints! 😇
Southampton substitution: Nathan Redmond replaces Dušan Tadić
Saints make a change at the interval.
First-half gallery
Check out some of the images from the opening 45 minutes at St Mary's.
Today's attendance is in!
This afternoon's crowd at St Mary's is 28,976! Thanks to all those supporting both here and at home.
Southampton 0-0 Middlesbrough
It's goalless at the break as we reach the interval at St Mary's.
Yellow Card for Sofiane Boufal (Southampton)
Boufal goes into the book for a foul on Antonio Barragán.
Saints escape!
Viktor Fischer bursts through the middle and rounds Fraser Forster, only for José Fonte to clear off the line. Christian Stan's first follow-up is then blocked by Sam McQueen, before he fires over.
Ward-Prowse off target
Dušan Tadić sends in a cross from the left, picking out the run of James Ward-Prowse, but he can't flick his header on target.
Boufal searching for an opening
Sofia Boufal goes in search of some space, but neither side has been giving much away in the first half so far.
Yellow Card for Dušan Tadić (Southampton)
The Saints player is booked for pulling back Fábio.
Valdés denies Rodriguez
Jordy Clasie's low ball in from the inside-right finds Jay Rodriguez, who sends in a good first-time shot, but Víctor Valdés gets behind it well to make the save for Boro.
Yellow Card for Antonio Barragán (Middlesbrough)
Barragán is into the book, following a late tackle on Sam McQueen.
Clasie again goes for goal
Jordy Clasie meets a low cross from Sam McQueen just inside the area, but drags his left-footed shot wide of goal.
Clasie sends in an effort
Fresh from his goal in the EFL Cup quarter-final win at Arsenal, Jordy Clasie goes looking for his second effort for the club, but his slicing shot from 18 yards is just wide of the near post.
Boro carve out an early opportunity
Viktor Fischer bullies his way into the Saints area after running down the left, before forcing the ball to Jordan Rhodes six yards out, but Fraser Forster diverts his effort away.
We're under way!
Middlesbrough kick-off here at St Mary's. Come on, Saints! 😇
14.15Puel gives his pre-match thoughts
Claude Puel speaks to the media in the tunnel ahead of kick-off.
14.11Tadić is back! 🙌
It's a first start in five weeks for Dušan Tadić, who returns to the line-up following a broken nose. Can he provide a spark for Saints today in attack, along with Sofiane Boufal and Jay Rodriguez?
13.39Ward-Prowse speaks to the media
James Ward-Prowse has been speaking to the media in the St Mary's tunnel, ahead of kick-off.
13.30Middlesbrough's team is in!
Starting XI: Valdés, Fábio, Gibson (c), Clayton, Rhodes, Fischer, De Roon, Barragán, Stuani, Chambers, Forshaw.
Substitutes: Guzan, Espinosa, Leadbitter, Downing, Nsue, Nugent, Traoré.
13.16Saints line-up confirmed!
Starting XI: Forster, Martina, Fonte (c), van Dijk, McQueen, Romeu, Clasie, Ward-Prowse, Tadić, Boufal, Rodriguez.
Team news coming up!
We'll be revealing the all-important line-ups for today's game at 1.15pm GMT!
13.00van Dijk wins Player of the Month award
We revealed the Under Armour Player of the Month for November this week, and it was no surprise to see Virgil van Dijk scoop the award. The defender earned almost 75 per cent of the fans' vote.
12.51Ward-Prowse checks out his magazine cover
James Ward-Prowse is the cover star of today's edition of SAINTS, and he seems to be happy with it! Order your own copy at saintsmagazines.co.uk!
12.2612.20we have to stand up together and come back. football is about new opportunities and now we have a chance in the league to give everything.
oriol romeuon responding to europa league disappointment
Romeu previews Boro
We caught up with midfielder Oriol Romeu this week to get his thoughts on today's game.
12.17Players arrive at St Mary's
Watch as Southampton's players made their way into St Mary's ahead of today's clash with Middlesbrough.
12.04Saints arrive ahead of Boro clash
Southampton's players have been making their way into St Mary's ahead of today's clash with Middlesbrough.
11.52Saints train ahead of Boro
Our cameras were at Staplewood on Friday, as Southampton's players trained ahead of the clash with Middlesbrough.
11.4511.25It's interesting to have a good reaction and come back with determination and conviction.
Claude Puelon responding to europa league disappointment
Puel previews Boro clash
We visited the manager's office at Staplewood this week to catch up with Claude Puel. Get his thoughts ahead of the game against Middlesbrough.
11.21It's matchday at St Mary's!
Saints are back in Premier League action this afternoon! Middlesbrough are in town for today's game, and we'll be live with you throughout the day.
11.16SOU vs MID Line Ups
Southampton
| 1 |
Fraser Forster (GK)
|
|---|---|
| 38 |
Sam McQueen
|
| 6 |
José Fonte (C)
|
| 15 |
Cuco Martina
|
| 17 |
Virgil van Dijk
|
| 14 |
Oriol Romeu
|
| 4 |
Jordy Clasie
Shane Long (85′)
|
| 16 |
James Ward-Prowse
|
| 9 |
Jay Rodriguez
|
| 11 |
Dusan Tadic
Nathan Redmond (45′)
|
| 19 |
Sofiane Boufal
Steven Davis (73′)
|
Substitutes
| 28 |
Stuart Taylor |
|---|---|
| 18 |
Harrison Reed |
| 8 |
Steven Davis |
| 7 |
Shane Long |
| 21 |
Ryan Bertrand |
| 3 |
Maya Yoshida |
| 22 |
Nathan Redmond |
Middlesbrough
| 26 |
Víctor Valdés (GK)
|
|---|---|
| 17 |
Antonio Barragán
|
| 2 |
Fabio
|
| 6 |
Ben Gibson (C)
|
| 25 |
Calum Chambers
|
| 8 |
Adam Clayton
|
| 34 |
Adam Forshaw
|
| 14 |
Marten de Roon
|
| 11 |
Viktor Fischer
|
| 9 |
Jordan Rhodes
|
| 18 |
Cristhian Stuani
Adama Traoré (81′)
|
Substitutes
| 7 |
Grant Leadbitter |
|---|---|
| 19 |
Stewart Downing |
| 37 |
Adama Traoré |
| 35 |
David Nugent |
| 12 |
Brad Guzan |
| 24 |
Nsue |
| 5 |
Bernardo |
SOU vs MID Match Stats
Head to Head Stats
-
Possession (%)5545
-
Shots146
-
Shots on target32
-
Corners42
-
Passes Complete396314
