Middlesbrough fail in play-off bid as Emil Riis Jakobsen brace hands Preston win

Middlesbrough were unable to clinch a Championship play-off spot as they fell to a 4-1 defeat at Preston on the final day of the season.

Chris Wilder’s men needed to win to give themselves a chance of leapfrogging either Sheffield United or Luton into the last two available positions.

But Alan Browne’s strike, Emil Riis Jakobsen’s double and Dael Fry’s own goal settled the contest in Preston’s favour, with Marcus Tavernier’s reply proving nothing more than a consolation for Middlesbrough, who had Paddy McNair sent off.

Even if Boro had managed to win they still would have missed out on a play-off spot, with fifth-placed Sheffield United beating champions Fulham 4-0 and sixth-placed Luton overcoming Reading 1-0 to seal their top-six position.

Wilder made one change to the side that beat Stoke 3-1, with centre-back McNair returning after illness to replace Lee Peltier, but Middlesbrough struggled to find any sort of rhythm in the early stages of the match.

Despite having little to play for, Preston looked livelier and the deadlock was broken by captain Browne in the 24th minute as he smashed the ball home on the half volley, having chested down Brad Potts’ cross inside the box.

The hosts had the ball in the net again around 10 minutes later with Daniel Johnson’s corner going straight in, only for referee Tim Robinson to rule it out for a foul on goalkeeper Luke Daniels.

They did not have to wait much longer to double their lead, however, as Fry inadvertently deflected the ball past Daniels after Riis Jakobsen’s attempted cross from inside the box.

The visitors had to battle to prevent the advantage from increasing further before the break, with Preston midfielder Ali McCann’s left-footed shot across goal sneaking past the