Middlesbrough moved back into the Championship's top two with a blistering second-half blitz to beat Southampton 4-0 at home. After a first period in which the visitors created the clearer chances but lacked composure in front of goal, Kim Hellberg's side scored four times in 22 minutes after the break through Morgan Whittaker's double and goals from Sam Silvera and Alan Browne.
The result ended Middlesbrough's run of four games without a win and a barren spell of almost seven hours without a goal, while also extending Southampton's winless sequence to six matches. It was a meeting that felt like two different games in one: for 55 minutes the south coast club created the clearer openings, before collapsing once the hosts struck with their first effort on target.
Saints Start Strong But Fail To Make Dominance Count
Middlesbrough enjoyed long spells of early possession but lacked any cutting edge, and it was Southampton who carved out the first serious chances. Adam Armstrong volleyed wide from the edge of the area, then Finn Azaz dragged a tame effort past the post from around 22 yards as the visitors settled more quickly.