Latte Lath scored his 18th goal of the season
Middlesbrough ended the Championship season strongly with a comfortable victory over Watford at the Riverside Stadium.
Emmanuel Latte Lath gave Boro a half time lead before Wesley Hoedt's equaliser on 73 minutes.
But the home side made sure with quickfire goals from Alex Bangura and Isiah Jones.
Michael Carrick's men lost just once in their final 11 games to finish eighth, four points off the play-offs, while Watford end in 15th.
Watford went close inside seven minutes through a Vakoun Bayo header, but Middlesbrough goalkeeper Seny Dieng denied him from close range.
At the other end, Jones' ferocious strike was saved by Daniel Bachmann at his near post.
Second half surge
Just before the half-hour mark, Latte Lath scored his sixth goal in succession and 18th of the season, sweeping home Luke Ayling's cross from the right byline.
In the final minute before half time, Edo Kayembe drilled an effort wide, and in truth it summed up a first half where the Hornets lacked a sting in the tail.
Boro almost doubled their lead through Luke Thomas on the counter-attack nine minutes after the restart, but only after Alex Gilbert timed a sliding tackle brilliantly to deny Bayo.
With 20 minutes remaining, Watford were level. Hoedt headed Yaser Asprilla's corner, before Dieng had to turn Ismael Kone's low shot around the post to deny a quick turnaround.
But almost immediately, Bangura restored Boro's lead. Great work by Sam Greenwood unlocked space on the left, and he found the defender who applied a cool finish from inside the box.
Jones made sure of the win six minutes from time. He finished emphatically after another good pick out by Ayling.
Post-match reaction
Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:
“It was near enough the perfect day in many ways. The corner we let slip was disappointing but we responded to that really well.
"We attacked well we were dangerous and we scored goals.
"I know it's a strong group and if it wasn't so strong there could have been times when the season would have fizzled out. That will give us a strong foundation as we go into next season.
“We've shown we can go on good consistent runs of form and wins. Hopefully that gives the boys and supporters confidence.”
Watford manager Tom Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio:
“I have no complaints with the result. They showed more personality with the ball than us. When we pressure teams and they have the personality to stay calm and play round us, it makes it difficult.
"I feel like I'm nowhere near unlocking the potential out of our team in possession. That's my job to analyse and plan for pre-season.
“They picked us off; maybe we should have been more patient and not as eager when we pressed. It was the first time the intensity of our recovery runs were not on the level they have been in the last eight games. Today just wasn't our best.”
