Middlesbrough FC 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0: Boro effectively book Championship play-off berth - but do it the hard way again
LATE-season games involving Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday are often eventful.
For instance, Boro have been relegated twice at Hillsborough - on the final day of 1988-89 when Wednesday survived at their expense in the top-flight - and 1992-93.
On the plus side, Teessiders with longer memories will remember the 8-0 drubbing that Boro's record-breaking class of 1973-74 - managed by future Owls manager Jack Charlton - inflicted upon relegated Wednesday in April 1974.
A more positive milestone for Wednesday in the recent past arrived last April when they beat Boro on Easter Monday last year. It remains their last league win on parched Hillsborough soil; a year and one day ago.
Another wretched number has been doing the rounds of late, namely the Owls’ horror run of 37 games without a league win; the worst in EFL history.
It extended to 38 and a 215th day with no Championship victory.
This game was not as eventful as those aforesaid meetings between Boro and the Owls, but there was still drama for the discerning eye.
Without a league success on home soil themselves in seven matches - and in six at home since the end of January - Boro ended their own wait – but it did not come easy in a tense old finale.
They just about prevailed against the division’s bottom club for the second successive time this season thanks to a single goal from Morgan Whittaker. Like at Hillsborough, they made heavy weather of it.
In the end, a wretched error from Gabriel Otegbayo proved the game-breaking moment. His awful pass sold Murphy Cooper short and Whittaker said ‘thank you very much’ as he tucked away his 12th of the season.
It was his most important. Barring the maths, Boro are effectively in the play-offs due to their goal difference and can leave Wrexham and Hull City to sweat it out.
Wednesday, who handed a full debut to Marvelous Nakamba, more than played their part in an open first half.
There was no ‘park the bus’, low block tactics as successfully employed by many sides at their end of the table and their football was offensive and cohesive at times. They were aggressive going forward, as predicted by Kim Hellberg.
Just a shame they tarnished things by a comical concession.
Whittaker was the grateful beneficiary and he caused issues for the visitors, in particular.
For their part, Wednesday got in some nice attacking situations, both through the centre with Jarvis Thornton and Charlie McNeill profiting a few times alongside Tayo Adaramola, out on the left.
Their best move came with a fine exchange between Thornton and Max Lowe, with Dael Fry making an important clearance after the hosts were opened up.
Boro-wise, Whittaker tested Murphy Cooper, in for Pierce Charles, as the hosts sought a relieving second, while Otegbayo atoned a little following his awful error with a key block to get in the way of David Strelec’s goalbound shot following Sean Fusire’s initial error.
Given their recent home form, it should not have been too much of a surprise that Boro did not hit their straps in the opening period. They had a few moments, but their fluency was nothing like back in the winter with their best player in Hayden Hackney still missing.
The interval lead remained theirs and the Otegbayo gift was gratefully accepted in the circumstances.
Wednesday were entitled to be very much interested, heading into the second half, with their commendable followers in typical good voice and numbers, with their song album incorporating a mix of gallows humour and anger towards the EFL.
For Boro, the trick was getting a second goal to make life far, far easier, given their recent drop off a cliff in terms of form.
Referee David Webb’s failure to play an advantage when things opened up for Boro was a source of annoyance to home followers early on the resumption, as was Alan Browne’s decision to square, as opposed to aim for goal when well placed soon after.
Aidan Morris then did not improve the mood either, blazing over after cashing in on Max Lowe’s looseness.
In comparison to the opening half, the visitors struggled to get going. But Boro’s failure to seal the game was something to hold onto at least.
Wednesdayites turned up the volume again and they were angered at a foul being given on Morris when he handled the ball. It came after Webb deemed he has been pushed under pressure, contact looked minimal.
Soon after came the visitors best chance, with Brynn called into action to turn away a snapshot from young substitute Will Grainger.
It was getting nervy for Boro, for sure.
A fine last-ditch challenge from Otegayo denied Sene, but the traffic was mainly the other way.
Sene missed a big chance at the death to add to the angst, while fellow substitute Sarmiento’s chip was cleared as meek finishing continued to afflict Boro. They held out. Just.
Middlesbrough: Brynn; Malanda, Fry, Ayling; Brittain, Morris, Browne, Targett (Bangura 81); Whittaker (Sarmiento 60), Conway (Sene 78); Strelec (Silvera 78). Substitutes unused: Wildsmith, Castledine, Edmundson, Hansen, Ibeh.
Sheffield Wednesday: Cooper; Palmer, Otegbayo, M Lowe, Fusire, Heskey, Nakamba (Chalobah 62), Thornton (Grainger 68), Adaramola; McNeill (J Lowe 62), Yates (Kobacki 83). Substitutes unused: Stretch, Iorfa, McGhee, Moses, Silcott-Duberry.
Referee: D Webb (Co.Durham).