Middlesbrough came away from Swansea with a point but remain winless in their last five Championship games
Middlesbrough remain in contention for Premier League promotion despite drawing 2-2 at Swansea
Middlesbrough missed the chance to momentarily leapfrog promotion rivals Ipswich Town and pull away from Millwall after drawing 2-2 at Swansea City on Easter Monday evening.
In a dramatic match featuring three penalties, costly errors condemned Boro, who are now five games without a win at a crucial stage of the season.
After taking the lead through Alex Bangura, they conceded two soft spot‑kicks to trail at the break with Tommy Conway converting a penalty of his own to secure his side a point. Boro boss Kim Hellberg said: “Of course we take the positive of the point, away from home, coming back from two-one down against a team with a lot of good footballers.
“I think over 80 minutes we were brilliant with the ball and how we pressed. So I’m very happy with that and, of course, coming back – the character. It could have been easy, after those results we’ve had lately – not going our way – to go down today.”
Promotion rivals Ipswich, meanwhile, beat Birmingham City 2-1 at home after trailing 1-0 but Millwall, who beat Boro on Good Friday, surprisingly lost at home to Norwich City.
Although level with Ipswich on 72 points, Boro have played two games more and thus Kieran McKenna’s side would move six points clear if they win both of their games in hand. As for fourth‑placed Millwall, they too are level on points with Boro after the Norwich defeat.
With just five matches remaining for Hellberg’s side, the task is clear. “We probably have to win all five of our remaining games to get past them,” the Swede boss added.
“It’s very difficult to get those wins, but we will try and get as many points as possible and then we will see where we end up.”
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With that said, the Gazette has taken a look at Boro’s final five fixtures and those of their promotion rivals.
Ipswich Town’s next fixtures (2nd, 72 points)
Norwich City (A), Saturday, April 11 (12:30pm).
Portsmouth (A) – Tuesday, April 14 (8pm).
Middlesbrough (H) – Sunday, April 19 (12pm).
Charlton Athletic (A) – Wednesday, April 22 (7:45pm).
West Bromwich Albion (A) – Saturday, April 25 (12:30pm).
Southampton (A) – Tuesday, April 28 (7:45pm).
Queens Park Rangers (H) – Saturday, May 2 (12:30pm).
Middlesbrough’s next fixtures (3rd, 72 points)
Portsmouth (H) – Saturday, April 11 (3pm).
Ipswich Town (A) – Sunday, April 19 (12pm).
Sheffield Wednesday (H) – Wednesday, April 22 (7:45pm).
Watford (H) – Saturday, April 25 (12:30pm).
Wrexham (A) – Saturday, May 2 (12:30pm).
Millwall’s next fixtures (4th, 72 points)
West Brom (A) – Friday, April 10 (8pm).
QPR (H) – Saturday, April 18 (12:30pm).
Stoke City (A) – Tuesday, April 21 (7:45pm).
Leicester City (A) – Friday, April 24 (8pm).
Oxford United (H) – Saturday, May 2 (12:30pm).
At the top of the table, leaders Coventry City could seal promotion on Saturday when they host Sheffield Wednesday, despite being held to a 0-0 draw at Hull City.
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