Peterborough United 0-4 Middlesbrough: Boro win boosts play-off hopes
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Middlesbrough substitute Duncan Watmore claimed a goal and an assist
Middlesbrough boosted their play-off hopes with an emphatic win at Peterborough United, which dented the home side's Championship survival bid.
Posh had a shot cleared off the line before Marcus Tavernier's neat finish put Chris Wilder's side in front.
Close-range Folarin Balogun and Josh Coburn strikes followed in the second half, before Duncan Watmore rifled in a fourth for Chris Wilder's side.
Boro moved up to fifth in the table, while Peterborough sunk to the bottom, eight points from safety with just seven games left.
With Posh running out of games to try and stay in the division, they had to start well, and in-form striker Jonson-Clarke Harris drilled a shot narrowly wide early on.
Boro then put together an intricate passing move which led to Matt Crooks sending in a low strike that was deflected just past the Peterborough goal.
At the other end, Paddy McNair had to race back to clear the ball off the line from Posh striker Jack Marriott, with goalkeeper Joe Lumley stranded.
Moments later, McNair showed his effectiveness at both ends when he latched onto Jonny Howson's deep free-kick and laid off Tavernier, who whipped his shot into the corner.
Balogun could have had a first-half goal, were it not for a last-ditch clearance, but the striker on loan from Arsenal got his revenge after the break, when he poked a Howson cross into the net.
With Peterborough looking deflated, there was no let up in the Middlesbrough attack, evidenced by the fact that substitutes Coburn and Watmore both got themselves on the scoresheet.
Watmore put the ball on a plate for Coburn to score, before getting a goal himself after charging forward and smashing home.
After the game, Posh boss Grant McCann confirmed captain Ollie Norburn tore his anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty with Grenada and will need a reconstruction of his knee.
Peterborough United manager Grant McCann told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:
"I thought [in the] first half, there wasn't much in the game.
"[In the] second half, it was a little bit unrecognisable of what I've come to see of the team since I've been here.
"We just lacked any sort of conviction, energy, purpose - we conceded three sloppy goals that we have given to Middlesbrough - they haven't worked too hard to get them."
Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Tees:
"Fresh in the mind is a defeat at Barnsley and a defeat at Bristol City that we keep reminding the players [of].
"Putting teams to bed is crucial. I believe we played well and in the majority of games we have played well since I've been here.
"We were clinical in both boxes and as much as the boys at the top of the pitch will get the credit, I thought the three centre-halves were outstanding and allowed us to dictate the game."