Middlesbrough

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  1. 🎧 Challengers or imposters - what did Boro feel?published at 16:51 BST

    Media caption,

    72+ EFL Pod: Inside Hull’s promotion & Spygate drama

    "It must have been difficult for them with the way they come into the final, with all that went on with Spygate. I just wonder if they, as a group of players, had a bit of impostor syndrome and just felt they don't really deserve to be here."

    The 72+ team are joined by Bromley boss Andy Woodman to reflect on a difficult day at Wembley for Middlesbrough, who lost to Hull City after qualifying for the Championship final following Southampton's expulsion for spying.

    Listen to the latest episode on BBC Sounds

    Listen on BBC Sounds
  2. 'Deja vu' for Morris as Boro fall short againpublished at 12:42 BST 24 May

    Media caption,

    Morris: 'It feels like deja vu'

    Aidan Morris says there was a sense of "deja vu" as Middlesbrough let slip another chance of promotion through their grasp.

    Boro became the first side to lose in both the semi-final and final of the Championship play-offs after their agonising loss to Hull City in injury time at Wembley.

    They were granted the opportunity after Southampton were kicked out following the Spygate scandal, but the Teessiders were left stunned by Oli McBurnie's late goal.

    "It feels like deja vu from 10 days ago," the midfielder told BBC Radio Tees.

    "It's disappointing. We're not going to be victims. We could have done more. As a collective, we weren't good enough and that's it."

    Boro were only reinstated into the final on Tuesday evening after Saints' expulsion, but Morris refused to offer the short and unusual preparation as an excuse for the result.

    He added: "Obviously, it's a bit different from normal football situations. But we should have been better."

  3. Gillett to referee Hull City v Boro play-off finalpublished at 11:39 BST 22 May

    Jared Gillett consults a sideline monitor during a VAR check for a Leeds penalty against Tottenham in the Premier League earlier this monthImage source, Getty Images

    The referee for Saturday's Championship play-off final between Hull City and Middlesbrough will be Jared Gillett.

    The Australian is usually a Premier League official but his one Championship game this season was Boro's crucial match at Ipswich on 19 April, when the fight for the top two was in full swing.

    The visitors were leading 2-1 when Town were awarded a controversial penalty for a tug on George Hirst in the area four minutes from time, allowing Jack Clarke to salvage a point which helped the Tractor Boys finish second, four points above Boro.

    Four Boro players were booked in 39-year-old Gillett's total of six cautions on the day.

    One thing which will be different this time around is that the video assistant referee (VAR) will be in use at Wembley, whereas it was not at Portman Road.

    In last year's final, VAR intervened to chalk off a goal which would have put Sheffield United 2-0 up against Sunderland before the Black Cats came back to snatch a last-gasp 2-1 win.