Middlesbrough FC chief's upbeat message as Hull City and Bradford City also prepare for play-offs
KIM Hellberg insists that Middlesbrough still have a 'brilliant chance' of securing promotion through the play-offs - following a pulsating final day of the regular EFL season which also saw Hull City and Bradford City extend their campaigns.
Boro headed into their game at Wrexham with a very slim chance of finishing in the top two of the Championship if they claimed three points and Ipswich Town and Millwall slipped up.
It failed to transpire, with Ipswich joining Coventry City in the Premier League following a 3-0 win over QPR, while Millwall finished third after beating Oxford United 2-0.
Boro's 2-2 draw at the Racecourse Ground did prove hugely significant for Hull, who leapfrogged Wrexham into the final play-off place after coming from behind to beat Norwich City 2-1, with two-goal Oli McBurnie grabbing the winner midway through the second half.
A pitch invasion followed after the final whistle at the MKM Stadium amid ecstatic scenes on an afternoon when Hull, Wrexham and Derby County were fighting it out for sixth spot.
At one stage, Derby were in the box seat, only for Sheffield United to come from behind and triumph 2-1.
But Boro did the Tigers the biggest favour, as Wrexham had started the day in sixth place.
Hull will host Millwall in the first leg of their semi-final play-off on Friday evening (8pm). Boro, who finished fifth, face Southampton, who visit the Riverside for the first instalment on Saturday lunch-time (12.30pm kick-off).
After being in the top two for most of the season before falling away in the final quarter of the regular season, the Teessiders face a huge psychological examination in the end-of-season lottery. But Hellberg remains positive.
The Swede, whose side extended their unbeaten run to four matches on Saturday, said: "Absolutely, this is a great chance for us.
"It's four teams, if you do a simple maths, it's 25 per cent (chance) to end up in the Premier League, so that's a chance and we are doing everything we can to take it. And it's a brilliant chance."
On facing Saints, Hellberg added: "It's a very good football team. It will be two teams going at each other, I think it will be very, very good football.”
After being grateful to 'Coventry and God' for giving Hull one more chance ahead of Saturday - the Sky Blues beat the Tigers' play-off rivals Wrexham on the penultimate weekend of the regular season - Sergej Jakirovic was indebted to Boro this time around, with maybe some help from celestial forces.
He said: "We saw Wrexham didn't beat Middlesbrough and it was enough to win 2-1.
"It is emotional for us because we have achieved something our chairman has dreamt about. For the lads as well, I'm very proud of them because they have shown a great mentality.”
Needing a draw to rubber-stamp a play-off place in League One, Bradford triumphed 2-1 at Exeter City, whose own relegation was confirmed.
The Bantams finished fourth, with their prize being a second leg at Valley Parade.
They will face Bolton Wanderers over two legs, with the first meeting being in Lancashire next Saturday evening (kick-off 8pm).