Southampton is through to its second Championship playoff final in two years after narrowly getting the better of Middlesbrough 2-1 on Tuesday night.
After a tense and nervy 0-0 draw in the first leg, Tonda Eckert's men knew that they needed to use the home advantage of St. Mary's to grab a Wembley clinching victory, and they did just that, as a late 116th minute winner from Shea Charles sealed their spot with Hull City on May 22nd.
Charles is having his own personal goal of the season contest donning Southampton red and white, as another sumptuous strike from the Northern Ireland international sent the St Mary's masses into raptures.
Charles' standout performance vs Boro
The former Manchester City starlet is becoming a very dependable part of Eckert's promotion-chasing machine right now.
Indeed, the 22-year-old midfielder seems to have a knack for popping up with memorable strikes when his team needs a goal out of thin air, having scored a spectacular first-time hit earlier in the season against Oxford United, and he delivered the goods again versus Kim Hellberg's side, when curling home this unexpected winner as extra time ticked away.
SOUTHAMPTON TAKE THE LEAD DEEP INTO EXTRA-TIME!
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 12, 2026
Shea Charles' cross evades everybody and the Saints have one foot in the play-off final! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/H9w1DXeSjG
Scoring the winner, too, as the Saints knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup, Eckert could well be relying on another bit of magic, potentially, from his standout number 24 at Wembley, as the Tigers stand in Southampton's way of promotion.
Winning a combined nine tackles and duels for his side's cause, as well, Charles will hope he's won himself a spot in the German's starting XI for the playoff final later this month.
Amazingly, though, despite Charles strutting his stuff in style, there was another performer for the home side who put in an even more polished display than the dramatic matchwinner.
The Saints star who was even better than Charles
Southampton had to keep their heads screwed on throughout, as Riley McGree's early opener for Boro could've derailed them on another day.
Thankfully, courtesy of Ross Stewart heading home in the first half, added on time, and Charles' fortunate effort being Sol Brynn, a slim win was secured despite this early scare, with Ryan Manning standing out throughout as a rock-solid member of the Saints' backline.
Winning nine tackles and duels, much like Charles, the trusty number three also amassed seven ball recoveries as an energetic full-back, alongside constantly wanting to be involved in the attacking play.
Come the end of the tiring 120 minute marathon, Manning had amassed 111 touches of the ball, resulting in four key passes being accumulated, and three shots being registered at the Boro goal.
The 29-year-old just continues to age like a fine wine at St. Mary's, when he was once a battered and bruised individual after the Saints' disastrous relegation at the close of the 2024/25 campaign.
Right now, he looks reinvigorated and reenergised, having picked up a stunning 14 goal contributions during the regular season as a well-rounded weapon for Eckert to fall back on.
Both Charles and Manning will certainly believe they will be selected again for the approaching playoff final with Hull, as the Irish defender, who regularly slips under the radar, arguably put in a more memorable all-round showing than the Manchester-born midfielder, stealing all the limelight with his unforgettable winner.
Add us as a preferred source on Google