Middlesbrough

And so, after 45 Championship games, it all comes down to the final day...

Tell us, Ipswich, Millwall and Middlesbrough fans, how are you feeling?

The Tractor Boys have the advantage going into Saturday's home game with QPR, knowing a win would seal automatic promotion.

But the Lions, one point behind in third place, will seek to keep the pressure on as they host Oxford United while fourth-placed Boro, two points back, head to Wrexham aiming for a win and hoping other results go their way to sneak back over the dotted line where they spent most of the season.

Do you think your side will reach the Premier League by 15:00 BST on Saturday? If not, how hard would it be for them to pick themselves up and go again in the play-offs?

Click here to have your say.

It is set to be an "absolutely brilliant" final day of the Championship promotion race on which "anything can happen", according to the BBC's 72+ EFL podcast team.

Tuesday's dramatic 2-2 draw between Southampton and Ipswich has left Town, Millwall and Middlesbrough to fight it out for the second automatic promotion place in the 46th and final round of games on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Ipswich are in pole position, a point ahead of Millwall, with a goal difference advantage of +17 on the Lions, but with Boro a point further back. Town know they must beat QPR at Portman Road to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

Middlesbrough are at Wrexham, who need to secure a play-off spot, while Millwall host already-relegated Oxford United.

"It was a brilliant game," said EFL pundit Jobi McAnuff.

"We have spoken all season about how open the Championship has been. Coventry have been by far and away the best team, worthy winners, but for it to go into the last Saturday [is fantastic].

"Millwall, the team that just won't go away, they're still hanging in there, Middlesbrough, the team off the back of really poor form but with a couple of good results of late, anything can happen, it's going to be absolutely brilliant on Saturday."

Despite extending their unbeaten league run to 18 games, Saints bowed out of the race, sitting four points behind Ipswich, and will need to win the play-offs if they are to secure their own top-flight return.

"It's been a fantastic run. Everyone from afar was hoping they'd get in there, It's Roy of the Rovers stuff," said Bristol Rovers boss Steve Evans.

"In fairness, probably the teams that have been more consistent and better over the course of the season, they're the ones who are going to fight the final day shootout."

Even though he believes Ipswich have been "underwhelming" this season, McAnuff said he expects the Tractor Boys to prevail.

He said: "I expect them to go and finish the job now at home. They have got through what was a tricky run of away games ,which has really been their Achilles heel.

"Big win at Charlton, [point at] West Brom on Saturday and follow up by getting a point at the form team [Southampton].

"I think Kieran McKenna would have taken that before - make sure they're going into the last game of the season very much in control.

"We associate McKenna and Ipswich with that all-out attacking free-flowing football, they haven't found that rhythm this season, they have been a bit underwhelming, I have to say, with the quality they have in their squad.

"I believe they will get over the line but with this squad that's the bare minimum they should be doing this season."

Evans fears for McKenna's future if he is unable to guide Ipswich back to the Premier League.

"If Ipswich turn up and play as they can at Portman Road they'll be in the Premier League," he said.

"If they drop to the play-offs and lose and Kieran McKenna doesn't lead them to the Premier League then he might not lead them anywhere, that's how ruthless football is."

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.

Middlesbrough will hope to keep their automatic promotion bid alive as they host Watford on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Boro won their first home game in seven league matches when Morgan Whittaker scored the winner against Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday.

But they are still three points adrift of the second spot with four teams all vying for the coveted second automatic promotion position.

• Middlesbrough have lost each of their last three league meetings with Watford, their longest ever losing run against the Hornets.

• Watford, 1-0 winners in this exact fixture last season, are looking to win back-to-back league visits to Middlesbrough for the first time since April 1992 (3 in a row).

• Middlesbrough have only won their final home league game in two of the last six seasons (D2 L2), although one of those was against Watford in 2023-24 (3-1).

• Watford have lost their final away league game in nine of the last 10 seasons (D1 – v Sunderland in 2022-23) since a 2-0 win at Brighton in 2014-15.

• Watford have lost each of their last three league games, all without scoring; outside of the top-flight, only from December 1971 to February 1972 have they ever lost more in a row without reply (7)

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.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg was pleased by his side's return to winning ways as they narrowly defeated Sheffield Wednesday at the Riverside - and he conceded that doing so in style was not a priority.

Morgan Whittaker scored the only goal of the game when he intercepted Gabriel Otegbayo's pass-back to Murphy Cooper and finished beyond the Owls goalkeeper in the 11th minute.

Things might have been more comfortable for Boro, whose automatic promotion hopes remain alive with two matches left to play, but they instead had to come through a nervy finish to seal all three points.

Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees: "It's difficult when you have not won in a long time, especially at home. In this kind of game, when you are not 3-0 or 4-0 up, you know it's going to be a tough last ten minutes.

"We could have scored two or three, which would have made it easier for us. You can feel that we haven't won at home in a while, and everyone gets nerves. We had to switch momentum - we backed up a top performance on Sunday with a win here.

"It wasn't a good game from us in general, but that does not matter.

"It didn't matter how it looked, to be fair. It didn't matter how we scored. We just needed to score, needed to win - and we did, against a team who hadn't lost in three."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Image source, Opta

Middlesbrough will seek to end their Riverside hoodoo when basement-boys Sheffield Wednesday visit on Wednesday night (19:45 BST).

Boro have taken just three points from their past six home games to fall off the pace in the promotion race, sitting three points behind second-placed Ipswich, who have a game in hand, after Town's late leveller in a 2-2 draw at Portman Road on Sunday.

Millwall and Southampton have the chance to pull six and five points clear of fifth-placed Boro respectively with matches on Tuesday night while the Tractor Boys are also in action on Wednesday at Charlton.

The Owls have drawn their past three games, their joint longest unbeaten run of the campaign along with September, when they also picked up their only league win of a torrid campaign in an away game at Portsmouth.

• Following their 1-0 win in October, Middlesbrough are looking to complete the league double over Sheffield Wednesday for the first time since 2015-16, when they were last promoted to the Premier League.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won just one of their past six league games against Middlesbrough (D2 L3), a 2-1 home win in April 2025.

• Middlesbrough are winless in their past six home league games (D3 L3), losing each of the previous two; they last lost three in a row in April 2022.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost 15 of their 21 away games in the Championship this season (W1 D5); only in 1946-47 and 2020-21 have they suffered more away losses in a second tier campaign (both 16).

• No player has been involved in more home league goals for Middlesbrough this season than Hayden Hackney (8 – 3 goals, 5 assists); it's just one fewer than his previous three seasons in the competition combined (9 – 6 goals, 3 assists).

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

Listen to more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds

Ipswich Town's quest for automatic promotion took a hit after Tuesday's shock 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth which meant the race for second place is back on.

The Tractor Boys currently occupy the second spot now only two points ahead of Millwall and three in front of both Southampton and Sunday's opponents (12:00 BST) Middlesbrough.

Pompey were also the side to deal a blow to Boro's top two hopes after Kim Hellberg's side fell to a 1-0 home defeat last Saturday, but Ipswich's defeat at Fratton Park leaves the door ajar.

With Boro picking up just one win in their past six games, three points at Portman Road could go a long way in securing a play-off place.

• Ipswich have won just one of their last 10 league games against Middlesbrough (D3 L6), a 2-0 away win in December 2023.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last four away league games against Ipswich (W2 D2), having been winless in their previous nine visits to Portman Road (D4 L5).

• Ipswich have lost the fewest home matches in the Championship this season (1/21), and are unbeaten in their last 15 home league games (W10 D5).

• Since the start of March, Middlesbrough have only scored 11 goals from 19 xG in the Championship – this is the biggest underperformance of any side in this period (-8). They failed to score in the defeat to Portsmouth last time out, despite having 20 shots and hitting the target eight times.

• Riley McGree has been directly involved in eight league goals for Middlesbrough this season (5 goals, 3 assists), and could equal both his most goals (6) and goal involvements (9) in a single Championship campaign (both from 2022-23).

Image source, Getty Images

On Tuesday, we asked for your thoughts on Middlesbrough's chances of automatic promotion - and whether they have enough to hold on to a play-off spot.

Boro are fifth and three points behind second-placed Ipswich, having played one game more, but visit the Tractor Boys on Sunday (kick-off 12:00 BST).

Kim Hellberg's side also travel to Wrexham on the final day - the Welsh side are currently seventh and eight points behind, though Boro do also hold a 17-goal advantage over the Red Dragons on goal difference.

Here are some of your responses:

Jezza: Play-offs for the Boro this season and unlikely to get to the final. Hellberg's Boro are an excellent possession-based team. Unfortunately, possession doesn't always transfer to points and a plan B is not evident.

Andy: Think we've blown the best chance we've had for a good 10 years. We need a striker who can score, a team that doesn't just want to pass the ball into the net. So disappointed, praying the play-offs will be kind to us, if we make it!

Andrew: I still think we can do it. We've had slumps before. I believe in Steve Gibson. I believe in Kim Hellberg. I believe in the players. I believe in the fans. Come on Boro!

John: We can't score goals so a last day shootout with Wrexham looks ominous as was last year at Coventry. Even if we stay in a play-off place, we have no momentum and our record in the play-offs is not good.

Luke: It's a must win this weekend for us to have a chance at automatics but due to our current run of form and lack of goals from our strikers in particular, my hopes have dwindled to almost zero for us going up automatically this year.

Bernie: Miracles can happen. It's in our hands to beat Ipswich and get our act together. It's a shame we did not see the potential of [Josh] Coburn. I feel a player like him in our forward line would have given us a lot more options. I think the club may live to regret taking money for him and could cost [us] a huge amount if we don't go up. Come on Boro, go for it.

Paul: Personally, I think we will be lucky to get a play-off spot, the other teams around us are on good runs and picking vital points up. I just can't see where our next three points will come from?

Lewis: Sorry to say it but we've blown it. Southampton are flying and look like they'll take second. Unfortunately, history, combined with current form, gives me no faith we'll do anything in the play-offs. We've got absolutely no clue how to score goals. At least we'll know what position to spend the Hackney money on!

Francis: We've been hampered by the same issue we've had for years, no striker. We've signed plenty of forwards that can play all along the front line but no player that has a natural instinct for goal.

Without that threat teams have been able to set up against us and prevent us getting anything. In a certain respect we are quite lucky to be playing Ipswich and Wrexham as they need to beat us for their own promotion chances as much as we need to beat them for ours.

This may produce more open games with more opportunity for us to take three points. Having said that, I think realistically automatic promotion is gone and that we might possibly be fighting Wrexham on the last day to remain in the top six.