Middlesbrough 3-1 Sheffield Wednesday: Boro push Owls closer to the drop
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Josh Coburn scores his first goal for Middlesbrough on his home debut
Sheffield Wednesday moved a step closer to relegation from the Championship after falling to defeat at Middlesbrough.
Boro went in front when Owls centre-half Julian Borner coughed up possession to Yannick Bolasie, whose shot deflected off Tom Lees past goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.
Josh Windass levelled with a clinical penalty when Marc Bola was adjudged to have tripped Andre Green after a silky run into the box.
Josh Coburn's towering header put the hosts back in front before Duncan Watmore scrambled in a third from Paddy McNair's corner.
A 16th away defeat of the season, combined with Derby's home defeat by Birmingham, left second-bottom Wednesday four points from safety with two games remaining, while back-to-back wins lifted Boro to ninth.
The Owls kicked off with little margin for error, knowing defeat combined with a Rams win would end their nine-season Championship stay, but Borner's error for Bolasie's opener piled on the pressure.
With Derby taking a first-half lead, Boro had a host of chances to double their advantage - Borner's sliding challenge prevented Chuba Akpom slotting into an empty net, while Westwood's save at full-stretch denied McNair's goalbound strike and Bolasie whipped a low shot just wide.
Wednesday made the most of the let-offs, and after Windass equalised with his 10th goal of the season, they were almost ahead in first-half stoppage-time when Adam Reach's powerful strike was kept out by Jordan Archer's fine save.
Windass missed to put Wednesday ahead after the break, side-footing wide after more good work from Green, before Coburn powered a header in off the post from Neeskens Kebano's cross and Watmore slid in his eighth goal of the campaign.
Wednesday must take at least a point against Nottingham Forest next weekend and hope for another slip-up from faltering Derby to take it to the final game, when the Rams host the Owls at Pride Park.
Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock told BBC Radio Tees:
"I thought we deserved it. I thought we should have been three or four up in the first half, and then to concede a penalty like we did was a blow to us.
"But we regrouped at half-time. I thought we came out with a lot more energy and desire and I thought we played some good stuff.
"It was lovely to see Josh [Coburn] come on and score the goal, he's really worked hard the last few weeks. He won headers and he brought other people into play. I was really pleased for him."
Sheffield Wednesday assistant manager Jamie Smith told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We're relieved [at the other results]. It gives us a fighting chance.
"In the first half, I thought we were well in the game, and controlled large spells of it. But I was disappointed with our performance in the second half, although we did still have good chances.
"It's just a lack of concentration with the goals that we've conceded. We haven't got time to have those - we've got two games left that we have to go and win."
On Tom Lees, stretchered off in the first half: "He has had an X-ray [on his ankle] and we don't think there's a fracture, which is pleasing. It's a blow to lose him but it's a chance for somebody else to step in."