Middlesbrough make history.

by **Forever Blue** » Sun May 24, 2026 6:20 am

Middlesbrough make history.

Play offs:

The first team to be knocked out in the playoff semi-final and final!

**Advertisement**

by **thomas9990** » Sun May 24, 2026 12:39 pm

Shouldn’t of been in the final in the first place,

by **Sven** » Sun May 24, 2026 2:22 pm

thomas9990 wrote:Shouldn’t of been in the final in the first place,

I’ve thought about this a fair bit, and I agree! :thumbup:

The ‘right’ decision to throw the Saints out but (IMHO) it would have been more pointed/courageous had the EFL decided to put through as the only team left in the competition; although I’m sure Boro or some other self-promoting team (may be with Gog in their name) may have seen it differently

Ultimately, the EFL couldn’t turn down the money the final created though and thankfully the right team were promoted and it all starts again in August! :ayatollah:

by **Forever Blue** » Sun May 24, 2026 2:33 pm

thomas9990 wrote:Shouldn’t of been in the final in the first place,

I agree

by **Cardiff_CPT** » Mon May 25, 2026 2:06 pm

I can't see what meaningful advantage you'd get from watching training in binoculars. Far better off watching tapes of their last few matches

by **Plymuff Bloobird** » Tue May 26, 2026 10:48 am

Something all wrong about this and it stinks.
Luton getting to a final after being knocked out and now Southampton with Boro getting to a final after being knocked out.

by **JimmyJazz** » Tue May 26, 2026 11:28 am

Cardiff_CPT wrote:I can't see what meaningful advantage you'd get from watching training in binoculars. Far better off watching tapes of their last few matches

Wasn’t binoculars it was a live feed via smartphone, so it involved staff at the club to view/record/analyse etc

I’ve got a couple of friends who are Saints fans they agreed with the disqualification and are far more angry about their own club.

by **SBF1** » Tue May 26, 2026 8:22 pm

Are they not the only team to have a shot on target at the goal in the final, too?

by **TopCat CCFC** » Tue May 26, 2026 10:35 pm

thomas9990 wrote:Shouldn’t of been in the final in the first place,

Spot On .

by **Tuggi** » Wed May 27, 2026 12:18 am

I think they should have been in the final, but the decision should have been made before they even played each other. They were informed before the game, and therefore it should have been a by to the final for boro.

If you really wanted to play the gog card, as they were also caught spying twice during the season, the place could have gone to the next team in the league.

The issue was timing, and I think the EFL were banking on Boro doing a job on them to make the decision just about next seasons point deduction