Middlesbrough remain in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship as they demolished mid-table Watford.
With second-placed Ipswich Town only drawing at West Bromwich Albion, Boro are now just one point behind both the Tractor Boys and Millwall, who are third.
But they will need Southampton either to win or draw when they host Ipswich on Tuesday night to remain in the race when they go to Wrexham on the final day next Saturday.
Morgan Whittaker’s goal against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek had ended Boro’s seven-match winless run, which had almost derailed their chances of a top-two finish, and the club’s top scorer delivered again at the Riverside. He struck a brilliant free-kick before adding a second from close range just before the hour-mark to make the game safe.
Slovakia striker David Strelec bundled home at the end of the first half, while Tommy Conway boosted Boro’s goal difference with a penalty and a confident finish in stoppage time as Kim Hellberg’s side scored five for the first time since November 2024.
However, it was a seventh successive game without a win for Watford as their season continues to peter out, and they only had a James Abankwah goal to show for on another miserable afternoon for head coach Ed Still.