Middlesbrough 4-0 Southampton: Boro earn first win in four to return to Championship top two
Middlesbrough earned a brilliant three points at the Riverside on Sunday to jump back into the automatic promotion spots, with a 4-0 win over Southampton.
Morgan Whittaker’s brace and goals from Samuel Silvera and Alan Browne were enough to claim Boro’s first win of 2026.
BACK WITH A BANG! 💥 pic.twitter.com/Qwxz7cIvuw
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) January 4, 2026
Prior to Sunday’s contest, Boro had failed to win in their last four games and fell out of the automatic spots.
And, their poor run of form was looking like it was going to continue, as Southampton began the game strongly.
Former Boro player Finn Azaz cut the ball back to the feet of Flynn Downes, but his shot was stopped by a great block from Adilson Malanda.
Southampton missed another huge chance when Tom Fellows was played through on goal, but Sol Brynn was quick off his line to shorten the angle, and the midfielder’s shot was well over from a promising position.
In the second half, Boro came out strongly and took the lead when a brilliantly-disguised ball from Matt Targett found the run of Whittaker, who calmly slotted the ball past a stranded Gavin Bazunu.
Boro quickly doubled their lead, five minutes later, when a brilliant switch of play from Luke Ayling found Silvera in space on the wing, with the winger taking one touch into the box, before blasting it past Bazunu.
Minutes later, Whittaker found his second when Aiden Morris’ cutback found him in space and he was able to calmly pass it into the corner of the net.
Morgan Whittaker makes it 🔟 for the season 👌 pic.twitter.com/Ob9faIFhHa
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) January 4, 2026
Middlesbrough added a fourth shortly after when Hayden Hackney cut inside and blasted the ball towards Bazunu, who was only able to parry the ball into the path of the on-running Browne, who was able to tap it past him.
Boro turn attentions to the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday, as they travel to Premier League side Fulham.
