Match Report: Watford complete miserable away run with 5-1 Boro loss

Watford's terrible end to the season continued as they were thrashed 5-1 by Middlesbrough at The Riverside.

Some of the Hornets' performance level was actually an improvement on previous weeks, they were the better side for periods of the first half, but they still found a way to lose heavily.

Morgan Whittaker got the ball rolling with a stunning free-kick from 30 yards, before Luca Kjerrumgaard hit the post.

David Strelec made it two with a fortunate finish in first-half stoppage time, before James Abankwah scored to make things interesting shortly after the break.

As so often this season, though, the Hornets did not grasp the moment., Whittaker tucked in his second before Tommy Conway slotted in a fourth from the spot after Abankwah's handball.

Conway completed the thrashing with a late fifth, driving past Egil Selvik at the near post.

The result means Ed Still's side are winless in seven and have lost their last four away matches by an aggregate score of 13-2.

In total, the Hornets have won just eight of their last 50 league away games.

Edoardo Bove battles for the ball (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)

Ed Still put out a particularly defensive-looking XI, benching all of Othmane Maamma, Giorgi Chakvetadze and Nestory Irankunda and moving to a back-five system.

Tactics had little to do with Boro's opener, though, with Whittaker bending in a stunning free-kick from close to 35 yards, an effort even Selvik could do little about.

The Hornets responded quite well, Edo Kayembe drilling a presentable chance wide before Kjerrumgaard steered straight at Sol Brynn from a Marc Bola cross.

The hosts did look a little vulnerable if Watford could get their press right, and Kjerrumgaard miscontrolled when presented with another chance to shoot from inside the box.

The Dane went close again on 18 minutes, receiving Kayembe's cross at the back post and bending an effort just wide of the far post. It felt like one of the best chances they have created in weeks.

Moments later, Imran Louza shot wide from 25 yards as Watford imposed themselves on the game, the Moroccan then swinging a free-kick inches wide.

Kjerrumgaard and Edoardo Bove continued to have some joy in attack as the Hornets put in their most promising display for some time, though they did get a little lucky when David Strelec missed a huge chance to put Whittaker in on the counter-attack.

Luca Kjerrumgaard hits the post (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)

Boro had a bigger let-off just past the half hour mark, though, as Kjerrumgaard's low drive was tipped onto the inside of the post by Sol Brynn and bounced away.

But as the hosts ramped up the pressure, they added a second in the closing stages of the half.

Whittaker's low cross bounced up and hit Strelec on the head, bobbling into the corner to send Watford in with an undeserved two-goal deficit.

The Hornets were back in it straight after the break, though, as they scored their first goal in four matches.

Kjerrumgaard's flick-on was met by Kevin Keben, who nodded into the path of Abankwah to wrestle off a challenge and slam in a left-footed effort.

James Abankwah scores his first Watford goal (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)

Still chucked on Maamma, Irankunda, Mamadou Doumbia and Jack Grieves, his team continuing to push as Irankunda drove into the ox and then Abankwah headed wide from a corner.

At the other end, Selvik was forced to save from Strelec as Boro posed a threat of their own.

But when Whittaker slid in a third just before the hour mark, the game was up.

With 18 minutes to play, Mattie Pollock produced a big challenge as Tommy Conway seized on Doumbia's giveaway and looked set to make it four.

Shortly afterwards, though, Abankwah's clear handball from a corner presented Tommy Conway with the chance to make it four from the penalty spot, an opportunity he did not pass up.

As the game fizzled out, Conway had time to make it five in injury time.

He charged into the box and drove through Abankwah's challenge and past Selvik, completing the misery.

Watford XI: Selvik; Ngakia (Maamma 61), Abankwah, Pollock, Keben, Bola; Louza, Mendy (Grieves 61); Bove (Irankunda 61), Kayembe; Kjerrumgaard (Doumbia 61)

Unused subs: Baxter, Goglichidze, Ince, Chakvetadze, Baah