We Are Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg is happy his side remain in the hunt for automatic promotion after a more positive few days for the club.

They scored five goals in a league game for the first time since November 2024 as they thrashed Watford.

With Ipswich Town failing to win at West Bromwich Albion, Boro could still finish second although that is dependant on the Tractor Boys failing to win at Southampton on Tuesday night.

But after failing to win for seven matches, successive home wins over Sheffield Wednesday and now the Hornets have returned confidence to Boro's ranks.

They also banished issues at the Riverside, where they had not won a game since 31 January.

Now they will have to wait and see if anything is riding on their trip to Wrexham next Saturday or whether their sole focus will be on the play-offs.

"I talked about if we won the two home games, it has a big opportunity to take it to the last day, which we've done," Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees.

"It was also one thing to secure the play-offs, that we have done. Winning at home, that we have done. Scoring six goals, only conceding one - so that was a lot of important things going into this week.

"And we've also shown quality in the second half, in how good we can be, and in the game at Ipswich. So, it's a lot of things that have been very good with this week.

"There is a lot of energy going into the last days of the season, and I'm really, really looking forward to it."

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg said he was determined to take his side's automatic promotion hopes to the final day of the Championship season.

Boro go into the penultimate game, at home to Watford on Saturday (12:30 BST), in fifth place and trailing second-placed Ipswich Town by three points.

The Teessiders are also three behind Millwall, who are third, but level with fourth-placed Southampton on 76 points.

However, with the Saints hosting Ipswich on Tuesday, and at least one of those sides certain to pick up points, Boro must win at the Riverside to stand a realistic chance of going to Wrexham and being involved in a final-day shootout to go up behind champions Coventry City.

"We need to try to win our game and hope that can take it to the last day of the season," Hellberg said.

"If you're in it the last day of the season, all things can happen. In the last 90 minutes, a lot of things play a part in who succeeds or not. We're still in it to try to get there."

Victory over Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday ended a barren run of seven games without a win for Boro, who had slipped from second to fifth.

But they will again be without Hayden Hackney, who has not played since 14 March because of a calf injury, for the visit of the Hornets.

However, Matt Targett, who went off a few minutes early against Wednesday sparking worries of an injury, is fit for the lunchtime kick-off.

After Middlesbrough got back to winning ways against Sheffield Wednesday, we asked whether you thought Boro were still in the fight for automatic promotion or if you're gearing up for the play-offs.

Here are some of your responses:

Stephen: A win is a win, regardless of how it comes about. We need an out-and-out striker.

If we had we would have been pushing Coventry even harder and be in a good, strong second place, not worrying about the teams behind us. Fingers crossed for the two last games, win and see how it goes.

Andrew S: There's still hope. We have had bad patches before. If we win every remaining game this season then we will be in the Premier League next season and we will keep Hayden Hackney.

Hopefully we will go up and stay up and have another run like we did in the 2000s when we were in Europe and reached the UEFA Cup final.

Andrew: Sadly the poor home form since February has cost Boro automatic promotion. Having all four teams head into the final day on 79 points would be incredible drama, but can't see it happening.

Ian: Little chance of top two. We have an injury problem - our strikers are fit! You wonder if we would be better not playing with strikers, roll on the play-offs.

Gareth: It's a shame that the wheels seem to have come off right at the end of the season. For a while I dared to dream that we were going up. So hoping for one more crack at the play-offs! Still, immensely proud of the Boro this season, and almost reminiscent of our famous UEFA Cup run.

Philip: Lack of firepower has been our down fall.

Mike: It's ridiculous that it should come to this - relying on other clubs to drop points. We had automatic promotion in our grasp for three quarters of the season and then were found out through lack of a good striker. Goals win games. Simples.

Okay, they made rather hard work of it, but Boro's winless streak at The Riverside is over after Wednesday's 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

Barring something truly extraordinary in the final two games of the season, which would need Boro to lose at home to Watford and at Wrexham on the final day, and two wins and a swing of more than a dozen in goal difference from the chasing pack, Boro are play-off bound, at least...

But they are also three points behind second place and the final automatic promotion place.

Six points to finish the season would make things very interesting, especially as two of the three sides in the race face each other next Tuesday as Southampton entertain Ipswich.

So how are you feeling, Boro fans? Are you plotting which play-off match-up would suit you best, or holding out hope that Millwall, Ipswich and Saints will drop points?

Click here to have your say.

In the wake of Sunday's frustrating late draw at Ipswich, we asked whether Boro fans thought their hopes of automatic promotion were over, and even if a play-off spot might be in doubt with three games remaining.

Here are some of your responses:

Barry: It was over after the Portsmouth game. It wasn't lost or finalised after Ipswich, I'd say the Charlton loss (on 11 March) was the turning point.

Gary: If I was given the chance of our position now at the start of the season I would have taken it.

Andrew: Middlesbrough's automatic promotion hopes ended a long time ago. It's going to be difficult for them to stay in the top six now.

Norman: Lucky if they're in the play-offs.

Ian: We travelled down to Portman Road, saw a great performance from the Boro. Victory was assured until the soft penalty. The referee did not have a good game and the Boro fans were on his back. Did that effect his judgement?

Vic: Don't know what it is but I'm a Coventry fan and have now become a Boro fan because of our battles and similar playing styles... also a big fan of Bob Mortimer. I really hope you get promoted with us.

How are you feeling after that last-gasp draw at Ipswich, Boro fans, besides frustrated?

That's now seven games without a win, and just 12 points from a dozen games, but there were plenty of positives to take away from the performance at Portman Road.

Do you expect the winless run to end with the visit of Sheffield Wednesday to The Riverside on Wednesday, and would that be enough to keep you in the fight for second spot and automatic promotion or has Ipswich's equaliser ended those hopes?

Are you now focused on securing a top-six spot and avoiding any final-day showdown with play-off chasing Wrexham on the road?

Click here to have your say.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney and Morgan Whittaker are both "better" and have not been ruled out of the side's huge game against Ipswich Town on Sunday (12:00 BST), boss Kim Hellberg says.

Midfielder Hackney has missed four league games with a calf injury, while top scorer Whittaker has not played in their past five.

Boro are also missing midfielder Leo Castledine with a leg issue, and left-back Alex Bangura, who has struggled for fitness all season.

Winger Sammy Silvera returned to the bench in the 1-0 loss to Portsmouth after an 11 game absence with a stress fracture.

But Hellberg is hopeful that his key players can make their comeback in the four remaining games of the regular season.

"Missing them is a big thing but all the players are getting closer to play," Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees.

"I hope that all those players that have been injured in a way will play a part in some of those games and then it's just a matter of time how quickly it is."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

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