Cats or Blades for Boro if they make play-offs

MIDDLESBROUGH now know they will play either Sheffield United or Sunderland if they make the play-off semi-finals, with former boss Chris Wilder challenging his side to overcome the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion.

- By CRAIG JOHNS

Defeat to Burnley on Monday mathematically ended Sheffield United’s chances of finishing in top two, as the Clarets and Leeds United sealed their promotion back to the Premier League with two games remaining.

The Blades, meanwhile, are 10 points ahead of fourth-placed Sunderland, with both sides already guaranteed a play-off place.

That is not the case for Boro who trail sixth-placed Coventry City by three points, with their play-off fate in their own hands due to the fact that they travel to Coventry on the final day of the season.

If they get in, they know they'll either face rivals Sunderland (if they finish fifth) or former boss Wilder (if they finish sixth), with the decisive second leg being away from home.