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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Louise Taylor

Boro and Hull attempt to disregard ‘weird and crazy’ spygate noise in playoff final

Middlesbrough merchandise celebrating the playoff final for sale outside the Riverside Stadium
Middlesbrough were left in limbo as they waited for a decision on Southampton’s fate in the playoffs but now will get a chance to compete for Premier League football. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters

When the television cameras zoomed in for a closeup it became clear Hayden Hackney was crying.

Middlesbrough’s best player had just watched his teammates lose the second leg of the Championship playoff semi-final 2-1 in extra time at Southampton. As he left his seat behind the away dugout and wandered across the pitch, the Redcar-born midfield playmaker looked utterly heartbroken.

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