Full TimePosted at 90’+6′ Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 5, Norwich City 1.Post updateAttempt missed. Gabriel Gomes Sara (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Max Aarons.
Middlesbrough put on a clinical display to keep their faint hopes of automatic promotion alive with a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Norwich City. Cameron Archer set up Aaron Ramsey to tap in the opener before Hayden Hackney’s half-volley made it 2-0 with four goals in 10 minutes before the break. Archer then slotted in the third and punished more sloppy defending with a powerful finish. Chuba Akpom tapped in a fifth soon after the break thanks to Archer’s second assist as Boro moved above Luton on goal difference into third in the Championship.
A first win in four matches puts Michael Carrick’s side within five points of second-placed Sheffield United with four matches remaining, but their hopes of a Premier League return now appear to be anchored to the play-offs. Norwich, who had lost just one of their previous eight away games, remain a point outside the top six in eighth and their bid appears to be flagging after a run of one win in seven.
The match was effectively decided in a frantic close to the first half as Hackney doubled the lead a minute after Darragh Lenihan’s headed finish had been ruled out for offside. Archer easily found space to convert Alex Mowatt’s pass for 3-0 and Boro returned the compliment when Paddy McNair was caught in possession by Josh Sargent who ran on and slid a neat finish through Steffen’s legs. But a Norwich defence missing first-choice centre-halves Grant Hanley and Ben Gibson, then poked Ryan Giles’ free-kick straight to the unmarked Archer to kill the game.
Akpom netted for the eighth successive home game – matching the Championship record shared with Jarrod Bowen and Tammy Abraham – and Gabriel Sara’s powerful strike smacked the post. The Canaries should have had a penalty when Ryan Giles brought down Max Aarons, who later forced a smart stop from Steffen.
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees: “It’s a great result. The goals going in were clinical and it was a ruthless performance more than anything. Football-wise we haven’t played any worse than that but we haven’t won in recent weeks. We looked dangerous in spells which was great to see. The boys took confidence from the fact we hadn’t had a result but the performances have been there.”
Norwich City head coach David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk: “We made some horrendous mistakes today, a lot of them, to be totally honest, in front of both goals. When it was 0-0 we had a great opportunity, when we were 1-0 down we had a great opportunity, but how we gave the goals away, how big the individual mistakes we made before we conceded them was horrendous. Then we lost our heads.”
Middlesbrough put on an impressive display to keep alive their hopes of automatic promotion with a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Norwich City. Cameron Archer set up Aaron Ramsey to open the scoring before Hayden Hackney’s half-volley made it 2-0 with four goals in 10 minutes before the break. Archer then slotted in the third and punished more sloppy defending with a powerful finish. Chuba Akpom tapped in a fifth soon after the break thanks to Archer’s second assist as Boro moved above Luton on goal difference into third in the Championship.
A first win in four matches puts Michael Carrick’s side within five points of second-placed Sheffield United with four matches remaining, but their hopes of a Premier League return now appear to be anchored to the play-offs. Norwich, who had lost just one of their previous eight away games, remain a point outside the top six in eighth and their bid appears to be flagging after a run of one win in seven.
The match was effectively decided in a frantic close to the first half as Hackney doubled the lead a minute after Darragh Lenihan’s headed finish had been ruled out for offside. Archer easily found space to convert Alex Mowatt’s pass for 3-0 and Boro returned the compliment when Paddy McNair was caught in possession by Josh Sargent who ran on and slid a neat finish through Steffen’s legs. But a Norwich defence missing first-choice centre-halves Grant Hanley and Ben Gibson, then poked Ryan Giles’ free-kick straight to the unmarked Archer to kill the game.
Akpom netted for the eighth successive home game – matching the Championship record shared with Jarrod Bowen and Tammy Abraham – and Gabriel Sara’s powerful strike smacked the post. The Canaries should have had a penalty when Ryan Giles brought down Max Aarons, who later forced a smart stop from Steffen.
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees: “It’s a great result. The goals going in were clinical and it was a ruthless performance more than anything. Football-wise we haven’t played any worse than that but we haven’t won in recent weeks. We looked dangerous in spells which was great to see. The boys took confidence from the fact we hadn’t had a result but the performances have been there.”
Norwich City head coach David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk: “We made some horrendous mistakes today, a lot of them, to be totally honest, in front of both goals. When it was 0-0 we had a great opportunity, when we were 1-0 down we had a great opportunity, but how we gave the goals away, how big the individual mistakes we made before we conceded them was horrendous. Then we lost our heads.”
Middlesbrough put on an impressive display to keep alive their hopes of automatic promotion with an emphatic 5-1 win over Norwich City. The hosts were clinical throughout as Cameron Archer set up Aaron Ramsey to open the scoring before Hayden Hackney’s half-volley made it 2-0 with four goals in 10 minutes before the break. Archer then slotted in the third and punished more sloppy defending with a powerful finish before Chuba Akpom tapped in a fifth soon after the break thanks to Archer’s second assist as Boro moved above Luton on goal difference into third in the Championship.
A first win in four matches puts Michael Carrick’s side within five points of second-placed Sheffield United with four matches remaining, but their hopes of a Premier League return now appear to be anchored to the play-offs. Norwich, who had lost just one of their previous eight away games, remain a point outside the top six in eighth and their bid appears to be flagging after a run of one win in seven.
The match was effectively decided in a frantic close to the first half as Hackney doubled the lead a minute after Darragh Lenihan’s headed finish had been ruled out for offside. Archer easily found space to convert Alex Mowatt’s pass for 3-0 and Boro returned the compliment when Paddy McNair was caught in possession by Josh Sargent who ran on and slid a neat finish through Steffen’s legs. But a Norwich defence missing first-choice centre-halves Grant Hanley and Ben Gibson, then poked Ryan Giles’ free-kick straight to the unmarked Archer to kill the game.
Akpom netted for the eighth successive home game – matching the Championship record shared with Jarrod Bowen and Tammy Abraham – and Gabriel Sara’s powerful strike smacked the post. The Canaries should have had a penalty when Ryan Giles brought down Max Aarons, who later forced a smart stop from Steffen.
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees: “It’s a great result. The goals going in were clinical and it was a ruthless performance more than anything. Football-wise we haven’t played any worse than that but we haven’t won in recent weeks. We looked dangerous in spells which was great to see. The boys took confidence from the fact we hadn’t had a result but the performances have been there.”
Norwich City head coach David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk: “We made some horrendous mistakes today, a lot of them, to be totally honest, in front of both goals. When it was 0-0 we had a great opportunity, when we were 1-0 down we had a great opportunity, but how we gave the goals away, how big the individual mistakes we made before we conceded them was horrendous. Then we lost our heads.”
Middlesbrough put on an impressive display to keep alive their hopes of automatic promotion with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Norwich City. The hosts were clinical throughout as Cameron Archer set up Aaron Ramsey for an opener before Hayden Hackney’s half-volley made it 2-0 with four goals in 10 minutes before the break. Archer then slotted in the third and punished more sloppy defending with a powerful finish before Chuba Akpom tapped in a fifth soon after thanks to Archer’s second assist as Boro moved above Luton on goal difference into third place in the Championship standings.
A first win in four matches puts Michael Carrick’s side within five points of second-placed Sheffield United with four matches remaining, but their hopes of a Premier League return now appear to be anchored to the play-offs. Norwich, who had lost just one of their previous eight away games, remain a point outside the top six in eighth and their bid appears to