Middlesbrough 'full of confidence' ahead of Southampton play-off test
Middlesbrough will face Southampton in the Championship play-off semi-final.
Middlesbrough are ‘full of confidence’ as they turn their attention to the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final against in-form Southampton - according to forward Tommy Conway.
Kim Hellberg’s side went into Saturday’s visit to play-off chasing Wrexham knowing only a win would keep alive their hopes of landing the second automatic promotion place during the final 90 minutes of the regular season. However, it was Ipswich Town that landed runners-up spot with a home win against Queens Park Rangers as Kieran McKenna’s men made an immediate return to the Premier League.
Boro had to settle for a point as goals from Conway and Boro team-mate David Strelec were cancelled out by efforts from home duo Josh Windass and Sam Smith. The result means Hellberg’s men ended the season in fifth place and they will now take on Southampton over two legs for a place in the play-off final.
Assessing what lies ahead, Conway told the club website: “We are four unbeaten, like that gaffer just said there, so we will go into the play-offs full of confidence. Obviously, looking at the season overall, ups and downs along the way, the fans have stuck with us and we have stuck together as a collective as well and we are going to go into these next two games giving everything and see where it takes us.”
‘Come out in numbers’
Middlesbrough were backed by an impressive band of travelling support as they put an end to Wrexham’s hopes of securing a fourth consecutive promotion with draw in Wales. Conway praised the impact made by Boro supporters during the game and called on them to provide another strong show in the home leg of the semi-final with Southampton next Saturday lunchtime.
When asked about the supporters importance, he replied: “Massive, especially with us being finishing in fifth. We are going to be at home first, 12.30 on a Saturday and hopefully the fans can get behind us early on a Saturday. I know they will, they’ve come out early on a Saturday at Wrexham. It’s a long trek and they’ve come out in numbers and they’ve been brilliant all game.”
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