Patrick Bamford is not advancing his own assertion that he's a Premier League-level striker here.

A ball from the left falls to the Boro striker on the bounce but he cuts across the ball in ugly fashion and slices it up and over the bar.

Dreadful effort. Boro's best chance of the game.

George Friend tricks his way inside Jeremy Pied on the left and sees his cross deflected out for a corner.

The left-back tries to rouse the crowd - a brief increase in noise that quickly settles back down.

The corner is dealt with by Southampton.

Postpublished at 50 mins

50 mins

Middlesbrough 0-1 Southampton

Jeremy Pied takes another awkward-looking tumble, a cause of concern for Saints, given his injury troubles.

Fortunately he's up again.

Stewart Downing curls in a deep ball to the back post that is headed back across goal and falls to Adam Forshaw, his deflected effort sliding wide.

It was a cracking ball from Downing from the left but his resulting corner is straight to Fraser Forster.

And we're off again...

Saints make a change as Nathan Redmond is on for Sofiane Boufal.

The teams are emerging from the tunnel and we'll be back under way soon. 

So Southampton are up to ninth as it stands.

Middlesbrough look like they will at least avoid the ignominy of finishing bottom as Sunderland - 2-0 down at home against Swansea - are even more hapless than Boro.

Sofiane Boufal is the third different taker and he does clear the wall but his shot bounces straight into Brad Guzan's arms.

And that's your lot for the first half. A smattering of boos from the home crowd.

Not the greatest 45 minutes of football whatsoever.

Another free-kick in a decent position for Saints to end the first half as George Friend trips Shane Long.

Can they clear the wall this time?

Image source, PA

Time enough for a shot at least, but Adam Forshaw's effort runs harmlessly wide.

Two minutes added time for the first half. 

Enough time for a riposte from the hosts?

A ball from the right almost drops for Patrick Bamford and then Marten de Roon but is hooked away by Martin Caceres.

Bamford took a blow to the head in a collision with Jeremy Pied there. He's up and on his feet now.

Another free-kick for Saints. Another effort battered into the wall, this time by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The follow-up header is easily gathered by Brad Guzan.

Three free-kicks that have offered shooting opportunities in this game, every one of them has hit the wall. Indicative. 

Sofiane Boufal scored a wonderful goal to settle the reverse fixture and we might well need something like that again here in a game severely lacking in quality.

Marten de Roon makes the latest mistake by straying offside down the left.

Ryan Bertrand's free-kick smacks into the wall and away. Sigh.

Free-kick for Saints now in a good position as Adam Clayton clanks the ankles of Jordy Clasie.

Image source, Reuters

Shane Long is played through in the box and elects to try and square the ball for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg but Brad Guzan smothers at the second attempt.

A shot may have been a better choice for the Republic of Ireland international.

Jeremy Pied bangs a cross well over the head of every Saints player in the area and out for a goal-kick.

Sure, he'll be rusty after an extended spell out with injury but that was woeful.