Will Middlesbrough-Southampton play-off have a decisive third act?

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• Published1 hour ago

As Southampton players enjoyed the acclaim of their fans, and Middlesbrough players looked glass-eyed towards their own, the thought persisted - is this actually the end of this play-off tie?

On the pitch, Saints claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory courtesy of Shea Charles' cross-shot in the closing stages of extra-time at St Mary's.

That should mean a place at Wembley to take on Hull City in the Championship play-off final on 23 May.

But these are far from normal circumstances after the events of last Thursday at Boro's Rockliffe Park training ground.

Southampton have been charged by the EFL with spying - which they have not denied - and so the football world awaits the outcome - and possible punishment.

So, in the 40th season of the play-offs, will this tie be the first to be decided by an independent disciplinary panel, rather than the players?

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Southampton have asked for more time as they conduct an internal review into what exactly happened last Thursday.

Normally they would have 14 days to respond to the charges, but the EFL has asked the independent disciplinary commission for "a hearing at the earliest opportunity".

A spokesperson said late on Tuesday that the commission is going through the due legal process so no timescales can be confirmed yet.

Various sanctions could result for Southampton - a fine, a points deduction or even expulsion from the play-offs.

That drama has played out against events on the pitch. It meant the post-match celebrations on Tuesday were more muted than might usually have been expected for such a significant win.

There was no mass pitch invasion at the final whistle, while home fans did not linger.

Southampton should be starting preparations for the richest game in English football in 10 days' time, but there remains a nagging doubt.

Middlesbrough fly back to Teesside on Wednesday, but their fate is not completely decided. Beaten on the field, they do not know if this is the end of their season so players may have to hang around before heading off on summer holidays.

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'Heartbroken' Hellberg crushed by bitter loss

After Saturday's goalless first leg, Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg made clear his feelings about the alleged spying. In his words, "there's someone who makes decisions to go and try to cheat".

Following defeat at St Mary's on Tuesday, Hellberg spoke with emotion.

The Swede, in his first job in England, talked of how working in the Premier Leaague was a dream he had been carrying for 15 years as a coach and about hours spent watching videos of Southampton in the build-up to this play-off tie that kept him away from his young family.

"If we hadn't caught that man that they sent up five hours to drive, you would sit there and say well done in the tactical aspect of the game and I would go home and feel like I've failed," he said.

"When that is taken away from you - we're not going to watch every game, we're going to send someone instead and film the sessions and hope they don't get caught - it breaks my heart in terms of all the things I believe in."

Hellberg's team had taken the lead on the night and in the tie through Riley McGree's early goal, but after another strong first half, they allowed Ross Stewart to equalise at the end of it.

From there, Saints took control as Boro's players became increasingly leggy, although it still took a moment of fortune to defeat them.

And having suffered a bad run at the wrong time in the run-in as they missed out on automatic promotion on the final day, a season of such promise had produced heartbreak.

But he was left feeling a range of emotions in the aftermath of such a painful loss.

"When I took the Middlesbrough job, I know there are clubs with bigger resources, parachute teams that can spend more money, that are teams with bigger squads than us," he said.

"What you have as a coach is the tactical element of the game and where we can beat the opponent. You have to find a way of getting an advantage.

"That's what you always try to do as we can be better in that element. And when that is taken away from you..."

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'When this is closed, I will say something' - Eckert

Saints head coach Tonda Eckert has taken his side to one game away from the Premier League on the back of a 21-match unbeaten league run.

But rather than be congratulated for what he has done with his side, he is in the firing line over these allegations and the German was again having to face difficult questions.

"It's not easy for me, I would say something but it is not the moment," he said.

"This whole matter is overshadowing two games that are an advert for the Championship from both teams.

"I hope that the way we speak about that gives credit to the quality of both games and when the investigation is closed I will say something.

"We do understand the seriousness of the matter. That's all there is to say at the minute."

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• Southampton
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