Middlesbrough captain Dael Fry is brimming with confidence as his side prepares for the crucial Championship play-off semi-final second leg against Southampton at St Mary's on Tuesday night (20:00 BST). The tie remains delicately poised at 0-0 after a fiercely contested first leg at the Riverside Stadium.

Despite failing to find the back of the net, Boro dominated the opening 45 minutes, firing an impressive 17 shots at the Saints' goal while keeping their opponents at bay with zero attempts. The second half saw a more balanced contest, but Fry remains unwavering in his belief that Kim Hellberg's men can get the job done on the road—a scenario that suits them well, given they've lost just once in their last nine away matches.

"I'm proud of the lads," the defender told BBC Radio Tees. "I thought we were fantastic. Going there on Tuesday, we're full of confidence. Our away form this season has been really good, and I'm fully confident we can go there and get a result."

The first leg was played in an electric atmosphere at the Riverside, fueled in part by the recent spying allegations surrounding Southampton. The Boro team bus received a thunderous welcome from thousands of fans as it arrived at the stadium—a moment that deeply moved Fry, a Teesside native.

"I was blown away," he admitted. "Today made me proud to be from Teesside. I was welling up on the bus. If anyone had started speaking to me, I think I would have started crying."

With the stage set for a dramatic second leg, Boro's captain is leading by example, channeling that emotional energy into a quiet confidence that could prove decisive in their push for a Wembley final.