Middlesbrough stormed into the Championship playoff final by beating Brentford 3-0 at the Riverside Stadium to secure a 5-1 aggregate victory.
Lee Tomlin's well-taken strike on 23 minutes helped build on the advantage Boro took into the second leg of their semi-final affair, before Kike put the game out of reach.
There was more joy to come for home supporters as Albert Adomah's strike rounded off the scoring 12 minutes from time, ensuring that the Smoggies will get the chance to fight for their Premier League status once more at Wembley later this month.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action on Teesside unfolded below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship playoff semi-final second-leg clash between Middlesbrough and Brentford at the Riverside Stadium.
Boro take a slender 2-1 advantage into this evening's tie thanks to Fernando Amorebieta's late strike seven days ago, meaning that the visitors have it all to do. Mark Warburton's men are seeking back-to-back promotions into the top tier, but they will have to overcome their opponents for the first time since 1964 if they are to progress through to the final.
Well kickoff on Teesside is now less than an hour away, so let's get straight into things by taking a look at how both sides line up this evening...
TEAM NEWS!
MIDDLESBROUGH STARTING XI: Konstantopoulos, Ayala, Gibson, Whitehead, Friend, Adomah, Vossen, Clayton, Leadbitter, Tomlin, Kike
BRENTFORD STARTING XI: Button, Odubajo, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell, Douglas, Diagouraga, Jota, Pritchard, Judge, Gray
The big team news is that Patrick Bamford misses out on the Middlesbrough starting lineup this evening. He was a doubt heading into the first leg but still managed to play a full part, although it was always touch-and-go whether the Championship Player of the Year would feature this evening. He has to make do with a place among the substitutes.
In terms of the home side, they remain unchanged from last week's first leg. That suggests Mark Warburton is happy with what he saw in the reverse tie, with Andre Gray, Alex Pritchard and Alan Judge all being given the nod to start at the Riverside Stadium.
Dean Whitehead looks likely to start at right-back for Boro, meaning that he will be tasked with keeping Judge and Pritchard quiet across the 90 minutes, while Ben Gibson and Daniel Ayala are once again selected in the heart of defence.
Brentford's unchanged starting lineup has been helped by the fact that Mark Warburton has had minimal disruption to his squad in recent weeks, with Scott Hogan (knee) the only long-term absentee.
BENCH WATCH!
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Ripley, Forshaw, Amorebieta, Nsue, Bamford, Reach, Woodgate
BRENTFORD SUBS: Craig, McCormack, Dallas, Bonham, Toral, Smith, Long
Middlesbrough have the perfect defensive cover in the shape of Jonathan Woodgate, who has struggled with niggling injury problems of late. As already mentioned, Patrick Bamford is also among the Boro backups, having failed to fully recover from an ankle knock which has blighted his recent performances.
Fernando Amorebieta was the hero last Friday, but he has to settle for a place on the bench this evening. Adam Forshaw, Emilio Nsue, Adam Reach and Connor Ripley complete the Middlesbrough matchday squad.
Tommy Smith, who was part of Cardiff City's promotion squad just a couple of years back, is among the Brentford subs. The experienced midfielder has played a big part from the bench this term and very nearly found a dramatic late leveller in the 2-1 defeat last time out. On-loan striker Chris Long returned to training this week, meaning that he is fit enough for a place in the squad.
Lewis Macleod drops out of the matchday 18, meanwhile, although the visitors can turn to the likes of Stuart Dallas, Jon Toral, Alan McCormack and Long should they need to change things around at any stage.
Patrick Bamford misses out on the Middlesbrough starting lineup this evening, having failed to fully recover from an ankle injury:
These two sides finished seven points apart in the Championship at the end of the season, and they produced an entertaining contest when they met seven days ago in the first leg. Jelle Vossen gave Boro a 26-minute lead, but Brentford improved before levelling up prior to the hour-mark. It appeared to be heading towards a draw, which would have been a fair outcome on the reflection of things, until Amorebieta rifled home a goal deep into added-on time to give Aitor Karanka's men a huge advantage.
That result, coupled with a real feel-good factor around these parts, has ensured that Boro will be backed by a capacity crowd at the Riverside Stadium tonight. However, that can so often prove to be a hindrance, especially if the visiting side take matters into their own hands and grab a goal. The nerves will certainly kick in at that point, although it is very much Middlesbrough's to lose at this stage.
They say form counts for little in the playoffs, but Boro will certainly be boosted coming off the back of just one loss in their last six. That defeat proved to be extremely costly, though, with a 3-2 reverse at Fulham proving to be enough for Bournemouth to join Watford in the two available automatic promotion places.
A 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage against fellow playoff hopefuls Norwich City seemed certain to be enough to take the Smoggies all the way to the Premier League, but they slipped up to allow their opponents in right on the final stretch. Karanka has done a fantastic job since taking over, however, with a place in the top six a good return for a side who have failed to truly compete at the very top since suffering relegation from the top tier back in 2009.
A 2-1 scoreline is a dangerous lead to sit on, so it was unsurprising to hear Karanka tell reporters earlier this week that he is treating this second leg as though the scores are still locked at 0-0. The Smoggies, who boast a hugely impressive defensive record, will not defend from the off, but instead looking to attack their opponents in search of a third goal which could very well settle the tie.
It is easy, therefore, to suggest that there is little pressure on Brentford, who were playing in League One last season and were not expected to mount a successive promotion push. But having reached this stage, the Bees will be eager to make the most of their chance, knowing that things can change awfully quick in football.
The defeat to Boro aside in the first leg, Brentford have been in good form in the final straight of the season. They have lost just two of their last 10 games overall, while claiming maximum points in three of their last six away games. It goes to show that the West-London outfit should not be written off, but they certainly face a tough task this evening.
Mark Warburton deserves a huge slice of credit for the work he has achieved at Griffin Park since taking over from Uwe Rosler but, regardless of the result this evening, he will depart the club at the end of the season. That could potentially make this his final game in charge, of course, so there is no doubt that his players will give all they have to the cause.
Kickoff on Teesside is now a little over 10 minutes away:
DID YOU KNOW? Brentford have come out second best in each of their last seven playoff campaigns. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, have been successful on one occasion (1986-87) and unsuccessful a few years later when they missed out in 1991.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: Middlesbrough have won each of their last six meetings against Brentford, including three games this season - 4-0, 1-0, 2-1 - while you have to go way back to 1964 to find the last time the Bees came out on top in this fixture.
Not long to go now until we get underway at the Riverside Stadium, so let's take a brief look at what both camps have had to say in the build-up to this huge clash.
Aitor Karanka: "It was very important, but I said after the game we have done nothing. We're going onto the pitch knowing that it is going to be a very difficult match. They are a very good team and have been all season, so we have to be ready from the first minute.
"In these kinds of games anything can happen. They can score, we can score, like in the League One playoff match. It was amazing to watch that game, but I hope that our game is a lot calmer. We have a one-goal advantage, but we have to approach the match like it is 0-0.
"We have to win the game because I cannot tell my players to go out and draw the game. In Spain we say that if you go out looking for the draw, then you are more than likely to lose the match."
Mark Warburton: "The players have done it before, they have gone to places like Nottingham Forest and Leeds and won. We will have nothing but respect for Middlesbrough but we'll go there with zero fear.
"Tonight is a huge game and there is no point dumbing it down. People will say do not make a big thing of it to the players but the prize is a Wembley final and Premier League status.
"I think we would rather adopt the opposite approach, highlight to the players that it is possibly the biggest game they will play in so go out and enjoy it."
PREDICTION: Warburton claimed that his side will have "zero fear" playing in front of a sell-out crowd, rightly pointing to his team's previous results this campaign in pressure situations. Fernando Amorebieta's late strike seven days ago was a huge blow to the Bees' hopes of advancing any further in these playoffs, but you certainly wouldn't bet your house on them pulling off an upset this evening. That said, Boro were so unlucky to miss out on automatic promotion, and I believe they simply have too much for their opponents on their day. 1-0 (3-1 agg)
Both sets of players are ready, with the pre-match handshakes now also out of the way:
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Riverside Stadium, with Brentford sporting their changed yellow and black away strip. Boro have beaten their semi-final opponents three times already this season - can they now extend that run?
George Friend is a little lucky to avoid an early booking following an over-exuberant challenge. Brentford have done well in the early stages, and it appears to be they who are going to settle into their game the quickest.
Boro are certainly not afraid to muscle Brentford off the ball whenever they get the chance, which is clearly disrupting the visiting side's flow. We saw a fair bit of that in the reverse tie, too.
Friend temporarily turns into Lionel Messi to get himself out of trouble, before the ball is played on to Adomah in a central position. He is unable to keep the move flowing, though, in what has been a flat start to the contest.
Kike finds himself in a one-on-one position with Dean on the edge of the 18-year box, but the Brentford man does brilliantly to shepherd him away from goal.
Tomlin is sent flying on the edge of the box following a promising move from the hosts, although the referee adjudged Odubajo's challenge to be a fair one. Replays show that there was a slight tangling of legs, but not enough to give Boro a free kick in what would have been a dangerous position.
Middlesbrough have set up well, making life extremely tough for Brentford to break them down. When the Bees do get on the ball the challenges soon fly in to break up play, which is likely to remain the case as long as Boro lead this tie. Referee Lee Mason has had a word with Leadbitter to warn him over the frequency of the challenges.
Andre Gray thought he was in behind the Boro defence, only for the offside flag to be raised. Brentford are starting to find a few more gaps now compared to the opening 10 minutes of the game.
SHOT! Brentford are having to put in a fair but of defending themselves in the opening quarter of this game, as Jota fires in the first shot at goal up the other end. He found himself in acres of space around 20 yards from goal, but his effort was rather tame and simple enough for Konstantopolous to collect.
Friend is playing very high up the pitch on the left-hand side, with his cross very nearly picking out Adomah at the back post. It was well cut away in the end, yet Brentford are still living a little dangerously at the moment.
The possession stats shows that 50% of this game is currently being played out in midfield, although it is Boro who are edging things in the final third of the pitch. They had to stifle their opponents early on, but it is they who have had the better of things overall. Still no clear-cut chances of note for either side yet.
GOAL! MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 BRENTFORD (TOMLIN)
Chances may have been at a minimum for both sides so far, but Tomlin certainly made the most of a brief opening when it came his way. Like Jota up the other end a few moments ago, he was left in space around 20 yards from goal and picked his spot. Button dived across to his left in an attempt to push the ball away, but there was enough bend on the ball to take it in off the post.
That goal is just about deserved on the balance of things, with Boro carrying out their gameplan to perfection so far. Brentford just haven't been allowed to settle in the opening quarter of the game, and life will now become even tougher with Boro happy to sit back.
The home supporters are now bouncing around in delight as they witness their side dominate things. A fourth goal will certainly kill off the tie, but until then Brentford always have a glimmer of hope.
Grant Leadbitter has probably been the best player on the pitch so far, certainly in a defensive sense, so it will be a big concern for Karanka to see his skipper down injured. He stretched for the ball and appears to have damaged his hip, with the physio now on the pitch.
Gray gets the ball into his feet with plenty of ground to run in to, but he can't quite get the better of Gibson. It is all hugely frustrating for the visitors at this stage. Maybe a change of tactics could help them in the second half.
YELLOW CARD! The game's first booking goes the way of Adam Clayton for his heavy challenge. Boro have been very physical all evening, with that yellow card long overdue.
Brentford are still yet to have created a single chance in this half, with Jota's shot-to-nothing proving to be their only attempt on goal. Boro have had just the one effort themselves which led to the game's breakthrough moment, but they have certainly been the side on top in terms of possession in the areas where it counts.
YELLOW CARD! Makeshift full-back Whiteheard becomes the second player to be shown a yellow card, after bringing down Pritchard. That is the first time Brentford have really got at Whitehead this evening, which they really need to be doing more of.
CHANCE! The first Brentford half-chance of the evening falls the way of Gray six yards out, but he couldn't quite react quick enough. The ball from Judge was hopeful more than anything else, although after Ayala missed the plight of it there was a slight opening for Gray to pounce, which he failed to do so.
Amorebieta is going through an intense warm-up at the moment, which I can only assume is due to the knock picked up by Leadbitter a little earlier. Should he depart at the interval - or before - it will be a big blow to the home side.
A last-ditch tack from Dean denies Boro denies Kike racing in around the back of the opposition defence, with Tarkowski eventually clearing away the danger. Two minutes to go at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 BRENTFORD
The half-time whistle blows at the Riverside Stadium, and it is the Smooggies who are sitting comfortably with just 45 minutes of the 180-minute tie left to play. Lee Tomlin's well-placed strike has proved to be the difference on the night so far; building on the 2-1 advantage his side claimed in the first leg.
It has been a hugely frustrating half of football for Brentford, who have not been allowed to get into this game whatsoever. Boro have bossed things in terms of possession, leaving the visitors to feed off scraps in front of goal. Jota had one effort that was easily kept out by Konstantopolous, while Gray was unable to make the most of his opening late on.
Middlesbrough skipper Grant Leadbitter has been the best player on the field so far, producing a number of strong defensive tackles while also moving the ball forward. He picked up a knock midway through the half and looked a little groggy as things progressed, however, so I wouldn't be surprised if he failed to emerge after the break.
Lee Tomlin celebrates opening the scoring for Middlesbrough with his well-taken strike on 23 minutes:
A reminder of the options available to both managers should they wish to change things around at the break. I'm looking at you, Mr. Warburton...
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Ripley, Forshaw, Amorebieta, Nsue, Bamford, Reach, Woodgate
BRENTFORD SUBS: Craig, McCormack, Dallas, Bonham, Toral, Smith, Long
Right, both sets of players are back out onto the field, with kickoff for the second half just moments away. Brentford face an almighty task over the next 45 minutes, needing two goals to salvage their hopes against a Boro side boasting the best defensive record in the division.
RESTART! That almighty task Brentford face will require them making a breakthrough early on in this half, so it will be interesting to see how they start things.
Adomah has swung in plenty of crosses all evening, the latest of which appeared to be right on the money between goalkeeper and defence. None of his teammates gambled, however, and the ball went straight through the box.
CLOSE! An almost identical scenario up the other end of the field sees Odubajo swing in a superb low cross from the right, which is agonisingly close to being turned home by Gray. He slid in but the ball was matter of inches above his outstretched boot.
Brentford are enjoying their best period of the game without question right now. That half-chance for Gray is the closest they have come to making the pressure count, but they remain on top at this stage. They simply must bag a goal if they are to truly trouble the Smoggies, though.
Tomlin aims to pick out Kike inside the box with a delicate pass using the outside of his boot, which doesn't quite come off. Brentford's spell of sustained pressure appears to be over.
Pritchard's cross appeared to hang in the air for an age up the other end, allowing Konstantopolous to easily gather. Time is continuing to tick down, with Brentford still needing two goals.
GOAL! MIDDLESBROUGH 2-0 BRENTFORD (KIKE)
Game. Set. Match. Boro look to have wasted the initial chance after Vossen failed to get a proper shot away, but the ball fell nicely to Kike who successfully did the rest. The striker kept his cool in front of goal to shake off Dean, before firing the ball into the net and effectively sending the home side through to Wembley.
Incidentally, Kike was shown a yellow card for taking off his shirt in the celebrations following his goal. You can hardly blame him, with that strike surely being enough to secure a first appearance at Wembley for Boro since 1998.
BRENTFORD SUBS: A double change for Brentford, and it hasn't come a moment too soon. Bidwell and Jota are the men to make way, with Stuart Dallas and Jon Toral providing some fresh legs.
SAVE! Adomah has had a very good match so far. He has been providing for his teammates throughout, but on this occasion he goes himself by forcing Button into action. The stinging shot was never likely to get the better of the Bees stopper, after initially doing well to cut inside.
If any side is going to bag a sixth goal of the tie, it's likely to be Boro. I think Brentford are just hoping for full time at this stage, with their hopes of reaching the Premier League very much over.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB: Kike, the scorer of Boro's second goal, leaves the field to a great reception from the sell-out crowd. Adam Reach is the man to replace him for the final 23 minutes or so.
1,522 away supporters make up the capacity 32.366 crowd inside the Riverside this evening:
BRENTFORD SUB: Brentford turn to loanee Chris Long for the final quarter of the game, with Diagouraga leaving the field.
Some fantastic covering from Adam Clayton denies Chris Long a clean shot on goal. The striker, who has been on the field for just a couple of minutes, found himself in at a somewhat tight angle, but Clayton done enough to put him off.
Tomlin found himself through on goal up the other end of the field as gaps begin to open up, but he was tackled inside the box. Vossen met the rebound which he could only fire over. A third goal in this second leg really would put the icing on the cake for Karanka's charges.
GOAL! MIDDLESBROUGH 3-0 BRENTFORD (ADOMAH)
Superb team goal from a Boro side who have been ruthless this evening. Some one-touch passing culminated in Adomah finding himself clean through on goal, but he still had Button and two defenders on the line to beat. Beat them he did, rifling in a shot off the bar to put the cherry on top of the cake.
It has been a fantastic performance from Boro, from the early moments when they were breaking up the visiting side's play, right up until that third goal through Adomah. Brentford now just want full time, because tonight is all about Karanka's men.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB: Tomlin's goal opened the scoring on 23 minutes, and his evening is now over. He leaves to a standing ovation from the 30,000+ home fans, with Adam Forshaw the man to be introduced.
YELLOW CARD! Harlee Dean enters the book for a late challenge which comes about through pure frustration. A disappointing way for Brentford to end what has otherwise been a superb season.
Three minutes remain of this playoff semi-final second leg, a match in which Boro have dominated from start to finish. Brentford had a couple of half-chances when they trailed by two-aggregate goals, but having failed to take them it was very much game over when Kike and Adomah added goals number four and five of the tie.
SHOT! Prichard takes range from 35 yards out with an effort that dips massively on its way to goal, but Konstantopolous stops it comfortably enough. His howler let Brentford into the game in the first leg, yet he has had next to nothing to do this evening.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB: Karanka urges his goalkeeper to smash the ball out of play in order for Woodgate to come on for the final few moments. Leadbitter, arguably man of the match this evening, makes way.
FULL TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 3-0 BRENTFORD
The full-time whistle blows signalling a mass pitch invasion which hasn't gone down well with those in the stands. Tonight is all about Middlesbrough, who right from the first minute were the better side. You have to feel for Brentford, yet they simply didn't turn up.
Their six-year wait for Premier League football may be coming to an end, with tonight's win putting them just one game away from a place big in the big time. For that to be the case, they must overcome either Norwich City or Ipswich Town, who compete in the second semi-final tomorrow afternoon.
Live coverage of that contest can be found right here on Sports Mole, so be sure to join us tomorrow lunchtime. In the meantime, all the reaction from Teesside will be filtered through shortly, on an evening when Middlesbrough comfortably overcome Brentford to book their place in the Championship playoff final.
