Middlesbrough remain in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship as they demolished mid-table Watford.

With second-placed Ipswich Town only drawing at West Bromwich Albion, Boro are now just one point behind both Ipswich and Millwall, who are third.

But they will need Southampton either to win or draw when they host Ipswich on Tuesday night to remain in the race when they go to Wrexham on the final day next Saturday.

Morgan Whittaker's goal against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek had ended Boro's seven-match winless run, which had almost derailed their chances of a top-two finish, and the club's top scorer delivered again at the Riverside. He struck a brilliant free-kick before adding a second from close range just before the hour mark to make the game safe.

Slovakia striker David Strelec bundled home at the end of the first half, while Tommy Conway boosted Boro's goal difference with a penalty and a confident finish in stoppage time as Kim Hellberg's side scored five for the first time since November 2024.

However, it was a seventh successive game without a win for Watford as their season continues to peter out, and they only had a James Abankwah goal to show for on another miserable afternoon for head coach Ed Still.

With half an eye on the play-offs if they fail to claim second spot, Hellberg rested four of his regulars, including Scotland forward Conway.

Whittaker's superb curling free-kick from close to 30 yards out put Boro in front after six minutes, although they were fortunate to retain that lead as Luca Kjerrumgaard spurned two chances to score an equaliser, including one effort that was fingertipped on to the post by Sol Brynn.

Top scorer Whittaker turned provider for the second, although there was a big slice of luck about how Strelec turned it over the line, inadvertently with his head after sliding in.

Watford centre-half Abankwah muscled between two Boro defenders to halve the deficit shortly into the second period, but from there the hosts took control.

Whittaker was most alert when substitute Matt Targett's low cross ricocheted into his path in the penalty area for his second goal and 14th of the season, and the ex-Plymouth Argyle man came close to a hat-trick with a thumping shot from outside the area that struck the bar.

That was his last act as he was replaced by Conway, and the Scotland forward got on the scoresheet from the penalty spot after Abankwah's handball.

There was even time for him to add a fifth for Boro, and his fourth in five games, as the home side significantly improved their goal difference.

Watford's late collapse mirrored their season as, having sat one place behind Boro on New Year's Day when they were fourth, they have won only three of their subsequent 20 games and plummeted down the table.

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees:

"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.

"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."

Watford head coach Ed Still told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"The result is really painful for everyone - myself, the fans, the club, the players.

"There were two parts to it. As strange as it sounds, the first-half performance was a really, really good performance.

"The control we had in midfield, we caused them problems. We should have been 2-1 up.

"They've had a moment of brilliance with the free-kick, and the second goal sums up our patchy form in our defensive box.

"But the actual result isn't just based on this game, but the whole season. Not creating enough togetherness, not creating enough resilience, and that's what happens at the end of a season, unfortunately."