Morgan Whittaker's 12th goal of the season sealed a 1‑0 victory for Middlesbrough over Sheffield Wednesday at the Riverside Stadium. The win snapped the Championship club’s eight‑game winless streak and moved the Boro to within three points of the automatic promotion places, while pushing them six spots ahead of Hull in the standings.

Whittaker capitalised on a shaky back‑pass from defender Gabriel Otegbayo, threading a sliver past keeper Murphy Cooper into an empty net. Despite a frantic second half, Boro’s defense held firm. Sheffield Wednesday, already relegated, struggled to break the deadlock, with attempts from Will Grainger and Sol Brynn thwarted by Cooper’s saves during the match day.

The result leaves Middlesbrough poised to challenge for automatic promotion, just a single point behind the second‑placed side. Their 12th victory of the campaign boosts confidence after a sluggish start, while the narrow margin against a relegated opponent underscores the defensive solidity that will be tested in the final fixtures later in the season.

Sheffield Wednesday’s campaign ends on a low note, with the loss confirming their drop from the Championship and adding pressure to manager Henrik Pedersen’s brief tenure. Middlesbrough’s manager Kim Hellberg will look to keep the momentum, as the club pushes for a playoff spot in the closing stages of the season.