Middlesbrough desperately needed three points on Wednesday and Kim Hellberg’s squad earned exactly that at the Riverside Stadium.
Aidan Morris started and delivered a strong 90-minute shift in Boro’s 1-0 home victory over Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday night. The American midfielder continued to be a regular starter for the promotion-chasing club, who stayed alive in the race for automatic promotion to the English Premier League.
Morgan Whittaker’s 11th-minute goal was all the hosts needed to snap their seven-match winless run in league play.
Morris won 11 duels, drew seven fouls, created two offensive chances, and made seven defensive recoveries in the result. The 24-year-old made his 40th appearance of the season for Boro, moving one appearance away from tying his career-high for a single campaign.
Boro’s victory kept them fifth in the EFL Championship table with two matches left to play. They are still mathematically alive to reach second place, but will need to at least four points earned plus Ipswich Town, Millwall and Southampton to all slip up along the way.
Sixth-place Wrexham and seventh-place Hull City are the only clubs alive chasing Middlesbrough in the top-six race.
Hellberg’s squad will next host Watford on Saturday before traveling to Wrexham in May 2nd’s regular season finale.