Southampton Jamu Middlesbrough di St Marys Usai Hasil Imbang

Southampton bersiap menjamu Middlesbrough dalam laga leg kedua semifinal play-off EFL Championship di Stadion St Mary's pada Selasa, 12 Mei 2026 malam waktu setempat. Pertandingan penentu menuju Wembley ini digelar setelah kedua tim bermain imbang 0-0 pada pertemuan pertama di Stadion Riverside.

Dilansir dari beinsports.com, Middlesbrough gagal memanfaatkan sejumlah peluang emas pada leg pertama meskipun mendominasi penguasaan bola sejak awal laga. Tendangan Tommy Conway yang membentur tiang gawang menjadi momen krusial bagi tim asuhan Kim Hellberg yang tidak mampu menembus pertahanan tim tamu.

Laga pembuka tersebut juga diwarnai ketegangan setelah muncul tuduhan bahwa Southampton melakukan aksi mata-mata terhadap sesi latihan Middlesbrough. Meski demikian, Southampton nyaris mencuri kemenangan di menit-menit akhir lewat sundulan Taylor Harwood-Bellis yang mengenai mistar gawang.

Manajer Middlesbrough, Kim Hellberg, memberikan apresiasi tinggi terhadap performa anak asuhnya di babak pertama meskipun merasa kecewa dengan hasil akhir.

"The first half was the best I have seen on English soil since I arrived here – it was absolutely everything against such a good team," ujar Kim Hellberg, Manajer Middlesbrough.

Hellberg juga mengakui adanya penurunan intensitas pada babak kedua yang memberikan kesempatan bagi tim lawan untuk berkembang.

"The second half was an even half where it was not as controlled, not as high quality maybe – they had a big chance at the end when they could have scored and that would have been very tough but it didn't go in like it might some weeks earlier," kata Kim Hellberg, Manajer Middlesbrough.

Terkait isu spionase yang berkembang sebelum pertandingan dimulai, Hellberg mengaku terkejut dan tidak menyukai situasi tersebut.

"I couldn't believe my ears when I heard [about the spying claims]. I thought 'that cannot be right', but I tried to be focused on what we were going to do and go towards the game," ucap Kim Hellberg, Manajer Middlesbrough.

Ia menegaskan bahwa struktur permainan yang ditunjukkan timnya sangat unik dan tidak akan ditemukan dalam rekaman pertandingan sebelumnya.

"You can watch all our games and you wouldn't find the structure we played in the first half in any," tutur Kim Hellberg, Manajer Middlesbrough.

Hellberg menambahkan bahwa tindakan tersebut merusak sportivitas meskipun ia tidak menyalahkan pemain maupun pendukung lawan.

"I don't like it, it's terrible - it has nothing to do with their supporters and their players, but it doesn't feel right and I don't like it," pungkas Kim Hellberg, Manajer Middlesbrough.

Di sisi lain, bos Southampton, Tonda Eckert, memilih untuk tidak memperpanjang pembahasan mengenai drama tuduhan mata-mata tersebut.

"The club made a statement [about the spying allegation] yesterday evening and that is all there is to say about it at the moment," tegas Tonda Eckert, Manajer Southampton.

Eckert menekankan bahwa fokus utama tim saat ini adalah performa di lapangan hijau demi memperebutkan tiket ke final.

"The story draws attention but these games belong to the players, they are decided by the players and not the coaching staff and that's the important part," jelas Tonda Eckert, Manajer Southampton.

Ia meminta seluruh elemen tim untuk mengalihkan energi sepenuhnya pada pertandingan yang akan menentukan nasib mereka musim ini.

"I've said all there is to say at the moment about that, we need to just focus because the game on Tuesday [Wednesday AEST] is going to need all of our energy," tambah Tonda Eckert, Manajer Southampton.

Sementara itu, gelandang Saints Flynn Downes mengharapkan dukungan penuh dari suporter untuk menciptakan atmosfer yang mengintimidasi lawan di St Mary's.

"That’s the best I’ve ever seen St Mary’s, by a mile. It was the best. It’s so infectious and the players can feel that," kenang Flynn Downes, Gelandang Southampton.

Downes meyakini bahwa energi dari tribun penonton sangat memengaruhi performa pemain di lapangan saat melakoni laga krusial.

"I think you could see it in the performance. I wasn't expecting it at all, to be honest. I knew the atmosphere would be good, but there was a bit more to it," ungkap Flynn Downes, Gelandang Southampton.

Ia merasa gaya bermainnya yang penuh semangat sangat terbantu oleh sorak-sorai para pendukung setia.

"That rubs off on the players so much. It was so good to play in, especially for the way I play – I play with my heart on my sleeve," papar Flynn Downes, Gelandang Southampton.

Dukungan tersebut dianggap memberikan tambahan kekuatan fisik dan mental yang signifikan bagi skuad The Saints.

"When the fans are up, it just gets me going even more. It was good, really enjoyable. You could see it against Arsenal – the place was bouncing," lanjut Flynn Downes, Gelandang Southampton.

Downes berharap kehadiran penonton mampu memberikan keunggulan kompetitif yang diperlukan untuk menyingkirkan Middlesbrough.

"It just gives the players an extra 10 per cent, it’s crazy. If we can replicate that, I’m really looking forward to it," kata Flynn Downes, Gelandang Southampton.

Berdasarkan pengalaman sebelumnya, status sebagai tuan rumah dipandang sebagai modal besar bagi Southampton.

"I think you saw it two years ago when we played away at West Brom. It was obviously a stalemate, a bit tense," ingat Flynn Downes, Gelandang Southampton.

Ia optimis timnya dapat memaksimalkan keuntungan bermain di hadapan publik sendiri untuk mengunci kemenangan.

"Then you come to our place, and we’ve got the advantage. I think it’s a massive advantage playing at home, so we’ve got to make the most of that," tutup Flynn Downes, Gelandang Southampton.