Middlesbrough-Southampton Preview (The Associated Press)

It's a telling weekend for Claude Puel's Southampton as the Saints head into Sunday's clash with Middlesbrough at St. Mary's Stadium in need of a positive reaction after the events that unfolded this week. Puel's club, which it can be argued, is in the greatest period of prosperity in team history, was knocked back a peg Thursday when they were bounced from the Europa League following a 1-1 draw with Israel's Hapoel Be'er Sheva at home in their final group stage match. Maor Buzaglo opened the scoring with 11 minutes to play before Virgil Van Dijk found the late equaliser, but the damage had already been done as the draw dumped the Saints out of Europa.