Middlesbrough remain in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship after a ruthless 5-1 demolition of mid-table Watford at the Riverside. With second-placed Ipswich Town only drawing at West Bromwich Albion, Kim Hellberg's side moved to within a single point of the top two, although Ipswich still hold a game in hand as the promotion battle reaches its climax.
Doubles from Morgan Whittaker and Tommy Conway, allied to a David Strelec strike, sealed Boro's joint-biggest win of the season. James Abankwah's goal at the start of the second half briefly halved the deficit, but Watford were comprehensively outplayed after the break and slipped to a seventh successive game without a win as their season continues to peter out.
A Free-Kick to Set the Tone
Whittaker, whose goal against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek had ended Boro's seven-match winless run, delivered again with a moment of brilliance. The club's top scorer struck a spectacular free-kick from close to 30 yards, firing over the Watford wall and into the top left-hand corner after just six minutes to put the hosts in front.