'You never know' - Kim Hellberg's verdict as Boro win keeps promotion alive

An emphatic 5-1 victory over Watford keeps Boro’s dream alive of finishing second and returning to the Premier League automatically. That’s because both Ipswich and Millwall both drew this weekend.

Boro will still rely on a favour from Southampton in midweek. But anything other than an Ipswich Town win at St Mary’s on Tuesday evening will ensure that Boro are one of four teams in with a shot of winning automatic promotion on the final day of the season, with Boro at Wrexham.

Hellberg said: “Football is an unbelievable sport, and you know that if it goes down to the last day, it is difficult to know how anyone is going to handle that.

“We’ve come from a position where we really felt we had nothing to lose in the last week. It felt as though it was probably gone, but if Ipswich do not win their next game, then it will come down to the last day of the season.

“If that happens, you never know. There are a lot of things that play into that type of game. Hopefully, Southampton can take at least a point from Ipswich, and then we will get that exciting last day of the season. I’m proud of the boys.”

Boro’s win ended up an emphatic one - and is very good for their goal difference too. Building on their midweek victory over Sheffield Wednesday, Morgan Whittaker was the star of the show with his brace, while David Strelec got another. Tommy Conway came off the bench to score two of his own and wrap up a great day for Boro.

But it wasn’t all plain sailing, with Watford enjoying the better of the opportunities in the first half after falling behind to Whittaker’s superb free-kick in the sixth minute.

Offering his thoughts on the performance, Hellberg said: “In the first half, we maybe got those goals that we deserved in previous games. The first half was not good for us, but it was two moments of brilliance, the first goal from Morgan and then the brilliant attack that led to the second. That is how we want to play.

“Then the second half is one of our best performances all season, in a lot of different ways. I like how we played, how we took the ball forward and how calm we were on the ball. It was very impressive after they scored at 2-1. I’m very happy with a lot of things, and it was important to win again.”

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