Middlesbrough returned to the top of the Championship by beating Norwich City 1-0 at Carrow Road this evening.
The visitors took the lead early on when Alexander Tettey headed Grant Leadbitter's corner into his own net.
Jonny Howson then missed a chance to level the scores as he placed a close-range header wide of the far post.
Patrick Bamford almost grabbed a late second for Boro when he poked an effort wide, but his team were not punished and they held on to claim a vital three points to boost their promotion hopes.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Hello everyone! We've got a massive game in the Championship this evening, as two teams hoping to win promotion battle for a place at the top of the table. It's second against fourth, as Norwich City welcome Middlesbrough to Carrow Road.
There are no teams in the league in better form that Norwich, who have won their last five games to climb up to second place and just behind leaders Bournemouth. They have really had to fight for their last two wins, as last weekend a stoppage-time goal from Gary Hooper gave them the points against Bolton, while last weekend they battled to a 2-0 win at Leeds.
Middlesbrough are also firmly in the hunt for an automatic promotion spot and they sit just a single point below Norwich in the table. Their form has generally been good over the last month, but defeats away from home against promotion rivals Bournemouth and Watford could yet see them finish outside of the top two.
TEAM NEWS: Norwich have made one change from their victory at Leeds, as Bradley Johnson returns following a two-match suspension and replaces Nathan Redmond. There are two changes for the visitors, who welcome Grant Leadbitter and Daniel Ayala back into their starting lineup.
NORWICH XI: Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Olsson, Howson, Tettey, Dorrans, Johnson; Hoolahan, Jerome
MIDDLESBROUGH XI: Konstantopoulos, Kalas, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Adomah, Leadbitter, Clayton, Tomlin, Vossen, Bamford
NORWICH SUBS: Rudd, Grabban, Hooper, Redmond, R Bennett, O'Neil, Odjidja-Ofoe
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Ripley, Whitehead, Kike, Reach, Amorebieta, Nsue, Forshaw
We know that both of these teams are guaranteed at least a place in the playoffs, but a win for either side would lift them to the top of the table ahead of their final two games of the season. It looks like a direct fight between the two clubs, Watford and Bournemouth for the two automatic spots and a place in the Premier League.
Three points tonight really could be the difference as both clubs have very winnable fixtures over the next couple of weeks. Norwich will travel to Rotherham, before ending their season with a home game against Fulham, while Middlesbrough play the Cottagers next and complete their campaign against Brighton
In this season's reverse fixture back in November, it was Middlesbrough who came out on top by romping to a 4-0 victory at the Riverside. Patrick Bamford gave them an early lead, before a double by Grant Leadbitter and a late strike from Yanic Wildschut sealed the points for Aitor Karanka's side.
The two teams have just made their way out onto the pitch and to a rapturous applause at Carrow Road. We're three minutes away from kick off and we'll have it all covered for you live!
KICKOFF! We are underway at Carrow Road!
Following a competitive start to the match, the visitors are first to threaten when Kalas bursts down the right and whips in a fantastic cross that Whittaker gets to just ahead of Bamford, as the striker looked poised to head an effort on goal.
SHOT! This has been a very good start from Middlesbrough and after Adomah's cross is only cleared to Vossen, the Belgian rifles in a stinging volley from just outside the box that heads narrowly wide of the far post.
Once again Middlesbrough have a decent opening when Bamford finds himself running clear down the left wing. He then looks up and sees Vossen arriving in the middle, but Bassong gets across to put the ball behind.
GOAL! Norwich 0-1 Middlesbrough (Alexander Tettey own goal)
The visitors make their early pressure count by taking a crucial lead. Leadbitter whips in a teasing corner from the left that is flicked on by Tettey at the near post, before ending up in his own net. Adomah arrived at the back post to make sure, but his touch came when the ball had already crossed the line.
CHANCE! Norwich are in complete disarray at the moment and Bamford comes close to touching in another great cross from Adomah. The ball ends up running through to Tomlin at the back post, who then fires in a strike from a tight angle that is palmed away by Ruddy.
Karanka will be absolutely delighted at how his team are playing at the moment and they look like scoring every time they come forward. Norwich have badly struggled down the flanks and they just haven't been able to get out of their own half.
SHOT! Bamford has terrorized the home defence and after another well timed run he finds himself breaking clear down the left. He then cuts inside and smashes in a low strike, but Ruddy is there to make the save.
MISS! How have Norwich not found the net here? They show their attacking intent for the first time as a ball is whipped to Johnson at the back post and he then heads it back across the box, Howson arrives to meet the ball and he looks certain to nod it into the net, but somehow he directs it wide of the target.
Middlesbrough could have a bit of a problem, as Bamford is down and receiving some treatment. He seemed to land awkwardly on his ankle after challenging for a long ball and his club will be hoping that it is not a serious problem.
Bamford has come back on the pitch, but it really doesn't look like he is going to be able to continue. He is quickly down again after pulling up as he charged the wing, but no subs are getting ready for the visitors yet.
In the past five minutes, Norwich have started to see a lot more of the possession and they are getting into some dangerous areas. It has taken them a while to get going, but their fans will be more confident of a comeback now.
Johnson has looked a real danger for Norwich when he is picked out at the back post and after another deep cross comes his way, he looks to direct a header to Howson at the back post. However, Gibson gets back brilliantly to make a challenge and stops Howson from having the chance.
CHANCE! Middlesbrough haven't been as dangerous as they were in the early stages, but they threaten here when Vossen flicks a wonderful ball through to Adomah that leaves the defence flat footed. The striker then takes a touch and blasts an effort goalwards, but it wasn't his best effort and heads well over the top.
Half-chance for the Canaries, as Bassong rises highest from a corner and flicks the ball just wide of the far post. If he had been able to make clean contact with the ball, then Boro would have been in real trouble.
Norwich are very much on top now and they would love to get back on level terms before half time. They also create another chance here, as Hoolahan fires in a strike from just outside the box that Konstantopoulos has to watch all the way.
The hosts win a great chance to put a free kick into the box, when Jerome goes down towards the left of the area. Dorrans takes the set piece, but he doesn't give any of his teammates a real chance to get their heads on the ball, as it goes all the way through to Konstantopoulos who is able to punch clear.
There are going to be two minutes of stoppage time.
YELLOW CARD! Hoolahan is the first player to pick up a card this evening after a dive inside the box. There was no contact from Kalas as he went down and the referee has made a great decision there.
HALF-TIME: Norwich City 0-1 Middlesbrough
We've reached half time at Carrow Road and in this massive Championship clash, it's Middlesbrough who are in the lead. They started brilliantly and went ahead through Alexander Tettey's early own goal and as things stand, they will return to the top of the Championship this evening.
Here's the statistics from the opening 45 minutes. Norwich have seen plenty of the ball and they have had 64% of the possession. They have also had eight attempts on goal, compared to six from the visitors, but crucially they are behind and will drop down to fourth if things stay this way.
It really does seem that the team who loses tonight will miss out on automatic promotion. You would expect Bournemouth and Watford to win at home tomorrow, so a defeat would leave far too much to do, with just two games left to play after this.
Middlesbrough take the kick off and get us back underway. I can tell you that Bamford has come out for the second half, despite his obvious injury problems before the break.
SHOT! Well, Bamford may not be fully fit, but he is sill capable of causing problems for the Norwich defence. He gets onto a long ball down the right and fires in a low strike across goal that forces Ruddy to get down and make the save.
The visitors looked a bit shaky in the opening moments of this fist half, but they now seem to have regained their composure. Neither team are really controlling the game at the moment, with a number of poor passes and mistimed challengers.
We've just had a short break in play while Vossen receives treatment. He had landed awkwardly after challenging for the ball with Bassong, but fortunately he has not done too much damage and is quickly back on the pitch.
Norwich are struggling to create any clear chances at the moment and they are being frustrated by a stubborn Boro defence. It may not be too long until we see Neil making some changes to his side.
Middlesbrough have yet another injury concern as Vossen is back down again. Once more he has landed badly after going for the ball and it seems like he has done some damage to his ankle.
SUBSTITUTION: Vossen is unable to play on and he is helped off the pitch by the medical staff. Midfield Forshaw will come on to take his place.
SUBSTITUTION: Norwich are also going to make a change, with Grabban coming on for Dorrans.
YELLOW CARD! Adomah is handed the first booking of the match for the visitors for a foul on Hoolahan.
Norwich are starting to pile on the pressure now and they are forcing their opponents deep inside their own half. They still haven't been able to create any decent chances, with Konstantopoulos untroubled since half time.
Almost a chance for Norwich, as Whittaker drives down the right and whips a great cross into the box that is just too high for Johnson. Moments later they see a flowing team move cut out right on the edge of the box as Jerome threatened to burst through.
CLOSE! Out of nowhere Middlesbrough spring forward and Tomlin is picked out just inside the Norwich half. He then drives forward and gets within 25 yards of the goal, before firing in a superb effort that heads just wide of the top corner.
YELLOW CARD! Olsson is the latest player to pick up a booking for bringing down Forshaw as the midfielder charged down the right wing.
YELLOW CARD! The cards are starting to pile up now and Clayton is shown yellow for cynically dragging down Hoolahan.
DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: It's a final throw of the dice for Norwich, as they bring on Hooper and Redmond for Johnson and Hoolahan.
As we enter the final 10 minutes, Norwich are dominating but they still can't create any decent openings. Credit must go to the Middlesbrough back four, who have produced an exceptional defensive display so far this evening.
MISS! This really would have wrapped the game up for Middlesbrough. Tomlin plays a wonderful pass through to Bamford, who has just the keeper to beat, but he ends up poking the ball wide of the far post. Will that miss come back to haunt his team?
SUBSTITUTION: That attempt on goal from Bamford was the striker's last contrition, as he is replaced by Kike.
SHOT! Norwich very nearly punish Boro for their missed chance, as Grabban fires in a strike from outside the box that takes a huge deflection and ends up heading just wide of the post with the keeper scrambling desperately across his line.
Konstantopoulos is the latest Boro player down and in need of medical treatment. The Norwich fans are making their feelings known, as their club have struggled with the amount of stoppages this evening.
Norwich are going to have seven minutes of stoppage time to try and salvage a point.
SUBSTITUTION: It's a final change for Boro, as Amorebieta is coming on for Tomlin.
The Canaries are throwing everything at their opponents, but they are still being denied. Ruddy is coming up for the corners now, but even his presence is unable to prevent the Boro defence from winning every challenge.
It just doesn't look like happening for Norwich and after winning a flick, Jerome is unable to help the ball through to any of his teammates. That might just be it with not too long left to play now.
FULL-TIME: Norwich City 0-1 Middlesbrough
The whistle finally blows and Middlesbrough have held on to earn a massive win this evening. They are now top of the Championship table with two games of the season left. Norwich are down to fourth and if results go against them tomorrow, then their automatic promotion hopes could be virtually over.
I'm afraid that's all we've got time for after this vital Championship match. We've got more live coverage for you across the whole weekend, so make sure you don't miss out. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening. Goodbye!
