Middlesbrough 1-0 Sunderland: Marten de Roon scores the only goal on a night the Championship got a taste of what it can look forward to

Daily Mail | April 26, 2017

This is what the Championship has to look forward to next season. On this evidence, it will be a mid-table contest at best.

Yes, the victory moves Boro to within six points of safety, but given it was their first since before Christmas, how are they going to win two of their final four? Answer: they are not.

Even their supporters are resigned to relegation. ‘You’re going down with the Sunderland,’ sang the visiting fans, to which the home masses returned, ‘You’re going down with the Boro’. Gallows humour is all they have left this season.

Middlesbrough celebrate De Roon's opener, which put them ahead after only eight minuntes

The midfielder poked the ball past Sunderland 'keeper Jordan Pickford to give Boro the lead

Stewart Downing almost doubled their advantage but he was denied brilliantly by Pickford

MATCH FACTS AND DETAILS

Middlesbrough (4-3-3): Guzan 6.