Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough travelled to Fulham on the penultimate weekend of the season knowing that a win would take them into the automatic-promotion places until Monday night at the very least.
Things weren't going their way at 3-1 and a man down, but they fought back to level the score at 3-3 before conceding an injury-time goal to Ross McCormack, whose hat-trick ended up promoting Watford on a crazy afternoon in the second tier.
Read how the match at Craven Cottage unfolded in our minute-by-minute updates below.
Allo allo! Our feature 3pm kickoff in the Championship this afternoon takes place in the capital as promotion-chasing Boro travel to Fulham. Around half an hour until kickoff, let's get to the lineups...
FULHAM XI: Bettinelli; Hoogland, Hutchinson, Turner, Richards; Tunnicliffe, Guthrie, Ruiz, Kavanagh; McCormack, Rodallega
Subs: Kiraly, Burn, Voser, Fofana, Roberts, Smith, Woodrow
Subs: Kiraly, Burn, Voser, Fofana, Roberts, Smith, Woodrow
Three changes for the home side from last week's 1-0 win at Blackpool. The goalscorer at Bloomfield Road, Matt Smith, is dropped and replaced by Hugo Rodallega up front, while elsewhere Bryan Ruiz and Shaun Hutchinson are in for James Husband and Dan Burn. Husband is on loan from Boro, so can't play against his parent club.
BORO XI: Konstantopoulos; Fredericks, Gibson, Ayala, Friend; Leadbitter, Clayton; Adomah, Vossen, Tomlin; Bamford
Subs: Ripley, Tiendalli, Reach, Whitehead, Nsue, Forshaw, Kike
Subs: Ripley, Tiendalli, Reach, Whitehead, Nsue, Forshaw, Kike
Karanka, meanwhile, makes just one change to the side that so impressively beat Norwich last Friday night. It's an enforced one at right-back, with Tomas Kalas's loan from Chelsea coming to an end, so Ryan Fredericks takes his place in the back four.
https://t.co/Jc9ID48IBF — Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) April 25, 2015
Fulham's win on the Lancashire coast last week guaranteed their Championship status, so there's very little for them to play for today. It's the complete opposite for Boro, who know that a win will take them into the top two until Monday night - when Bournemouth play Bolton - at the very least. Click here to see the latest table.
You'll see that Watford are now four points clear following their 2-0 win at Brighton in the early kickoff. The Hornets will be promoted if Boro lose here and Norwich fail to beat Rotherham. I'll of course keep you posted with all the big goals as they go in.
Boro might be favourites today, but they have lost six of their last eight games away to Fulham, winning the other two.
PREDICTION: Just 10 minutes until we get underway in West London, so it's time for my pre-match prediction. Boro have so much more to play for and as they have the best defence in the league, a 2-0 away win could be on the cards.
However, the away side has failed to score in each of the last four meetings between these sides.
The reverse fixture back in October was the same scoreline as I've predicted today - 2-0 to Boro. Adam Reach and Albert Adomah were on the scoresheet that day.
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
Looking at Fulham's form, the Cottagers are unbeaten in four games - drawing three, winning one - but they haven't won at home in their last five games.
As for Boro, they are going for their seventh win in nine games. Despite their fine end to the season, it looks like they will need to go through the playoffs if they are to go up. Today offers them a great chance to pile the pressure on Bournemouth.
Before kickoff we will have a minute's silence to remember the 30th anniversary of the Bradford fire.
Over 4,000 Boro fans inside Craven Cottage! COME ON BORO! #UTB #Believe pic.twitter.com/vQe7XHEFBe
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) April 25, 2015
KICKOFF! Off we go at Craven Cottage. Boro start the match as favourites, but don't forget, this is Fulham's last home game of the season so they will want to put on a show for their supporters.
Very little of note in the early stages as both sides feel each other out.
SHOT! Inventive stuff from Boro as Tomlin tees up Leadbitter from a free kick and the latter flicks the ball up in the air so he can strike a dipping volley which is swerving and Bettinelli has to tip it over.
At the other end, Fulham have their first shot at goal as McCormack lets fly from distance and sends it over the top.
McCormack is famed for his goals - he was the Championship's top scorer last term - but he's been a provider too this season. He has already made nine assists this term, which is more than he has ever managed before in a Championship campaign.
So, ten minutes in and we've had one off-target shot from each side so far. Fulham are edging the possession with 57% of the ball.
The ball breaks Vossen's way on the edge of the box, but the Belgian's effort is tame and straight at Bettinelli. Still, it's the first shot on target.
A Fulham corner is cleared only as far as Tunnicliffe, who shifts the ball onto his left foot before having his shot at goal blocked. There's half-hearted shouts for handball, but that was never going to be given.
UPDATE: The first Championship goal of the 3pm kickoffs came at the Madejski Stadium, where playoff-chasing Brentford lead Reading 1-0. Alan Judge with the opener in Berkshire.
Brave stuff from Clayton as he throws himself in the way of Ruiz's shot after Tunnicliffe had cut the ball back to the edge of the area.
SAVE! First chance of the game falls Fulham's way as Leadbitter is dispossessed in a dangerous position. Rodallega is fed in the area and his curler towards the bottom corner is tipped around the post by Konstantopoulos. Fine stop.
UPDATE: A big goal in the playoff race as Ipswich take the lead against Forest. Three points for the Blues will all but secure their place in the top six. The league's top scorer, Daryl Murphy, with the goal and here's a stat for you - he's just become the first Ipswich player in 52 years to score 25 goals in a league season.
SHOT! Boro go close as left-back Friend charges forward with the ball and goes for goal himself from 20 yards. It's well-struck, but always moving away from goal and Bettinelli is fairly confident it's arcing wide.
By the way, you'll want to keep this page open in a separate tab to follow the ups and downs of the live table. Right now Boro are second, Fulham 18th.
It almost opens up for Boro as the ball comes Vossen's way. He looks for goal, but Hutchinson is in the way to make a block.
UPDATE: Derby are down to sixth in the live table as they are losing 1-0 at Millwall. Good news for Boro, Norwich aren't losing at Rotherham, but they are down to 10 men following Lewis Grabban's dismissal.
BOOKING! Boro winger Adomah is the first man in the book for a foul on Kavanagh.
Boro have been far from their best so far, but they'll be relatively happy at how little Fulham have threatened. Bar that one Rodallega chance, the hosts have been pretty quiet.
Don't forget, we have the Championship Player of the Year on show at Craven Cottage today. Patrick Bamford beat the league's top scorer Murphy and the second-top scorer Troy Deeney to the award last Sunday.
SHOT! Leadbitter went close with a free kick for Boro in the early stages and McCormack's just threatened from a dead ball down the other end, curling it around the wall but wide of the target.
Easy take for Bettinelli's from Leadbitter's corner. There wasn't a single Boro player anywhere near the stopper in the six-yard box. Karaoke will definitely want to get his side in the dressing room and shake them up a bit. Opposite number Kit Symons will be pretty happy with how his side have fared.
GOAL! FULHAM 1-0 BORO (TURNER)
Massive goal in the promotion race as Boro fall behind just before the break. Hutchinson got up well to meet a corner and his header down was pounced on by central defensive partner Turner.
HALF-TIME: FULHAM 1-0 BORO
Fulham snatch the lead with basically the last action of the first half and that means, as things stand, Watford are being promoted today!
Reminder: For Watford to go up, Boro need to lose here (1-0) and Norwich must fail to beat Rotherham (0-0).
Boro fans will wonder where the team that played so well against Norwich eight days ago have gone. It's the same starting XI bar right-back Fredericks, but they really don't look like themselves today.
You wonder if Karanka will make a change at the break. His side really haven't performed and the likes of Kike and Reach could make a difference. Bamford, especially, has been really quiet.
If you want a quick recap of the opening half, then our half-time report is just what you need.
Goalscorer Turner is on loan from Norwich and that goal is doing his parent club the world of good. As things are, it looks like both Boro and Norwich will have to go into the playoffs.
KICKOFF! No changes from either boss at the break as Fulham get us back underway.
Exactly the start Boro would have wanted after the break as both Tomlin and Adomah threaten. Can the visitors find a quick equaliser. They didn't have any time to reply at the end of the first half.
CLOSE! So close to a Fulham second as McCormack finds Rodallega, whose header at goal is acrobatically tipped away by Konstantopoulos. Great keeping.
Bamford's effort is cleared off the line, but he was flagged offside so it wouldn't have counted anyway.
PENALTY TO FULHAM!
GOAL! FULHAM 2-0 BORO (MCCORMACK, PEN.)
Calamitous at the back from Boro, who are usually so error-free in defence. First they were lucky as both McCormack and Rodallega failed to take advantage from a scramble in the area, but then moments later referee Friend pointed to the spot after Ayala's lunge on McCormack. The Scot dusted himself down and coolly stroked home from 12 yards. Is this it for Boro's automatic-promotion hopes?
BOOKING! Gibson goes into the book for Boro. Now 2-2 on the yellow-card count. Can Boro make the actual scoreline that? Karanka is readying some changes...
BORO SUBS: No messing about from the Spanish head coach, who makes all three changes on the hour mark. Reach, Kike and Adam Forshaw are on for Fredericks, Clayton and Vossen.
GOAL! FULHAM 2-1 BORO (REACH)
Instant impact from the substitute as his dipping drive from outside the area somehow beats Bettinelli. Poor goalkeeping from the sought-after stopper.
PENALTY TO FULHAM!
GEORGE FRIEND SENT OFF!
GOAL! FULHAM 3-1 BORO (MCCORMACK, PEN.)
Surely there's no way back for Boro from here. The visitors are down to 10 men just moments after giving themselves a real chance of overturning the deficit. McCormack fed Rodallega in the box and he was brought down by Friend in a clear goalscoring position, so Friend sent him off. McCormack cool as you like from the spot for his second.
Surely there's no way back for Boro from here. The visitors are down to 10 men just moments after giving themselves a real chance of overturning the deficit. McCormack fed Rodallega in the box and he was brought down by Friend in a clear goalscoring position, so Friend sent him off. McCormack cool as you like from the spot for his second.
UPDATE: Boro are down to fourth in the live table because 10-man Norwich are now winning at Rotherham.
UPDATE: Boro are down to fourth in the live table because 10-man Norwich are now winning at Rotherham.
UPDATE: Boro are down to fourth in the live table because 10-man Norwich are now winning at Rotherham.
UPDATE: Boro are down to fourth in the live table because 10-man Norwich are now winning at Rotherham.
Here's McCormack celebrating the first of his two penalties
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
MISS! Fulham should have four! McCormack's deep free kick is met by Rodallega and somehow he heads over from just a couple of yards.
GOAL! FULHAM 3-2 BORO (AYALA)
The ten men are back in it! Centre-back Ayala with a header past Bettinelli from Adomah's corner.
FULHAM SUB: Symons makes his first change with 15 minutes to go. Fofana on, Guthrie off in midfield.
CLOSE! Tomlin threads it through to Bamford and his pinged left-foot effort fizzes just wide of the upright.
MISS! Oh dear me Patrick Bamford! What a miss! The on-loan Chelsea man, the Championship Player of the Year, pokes wide from about five yards with just Bettinelli to beat. Big, big miss.
FULHAM SUB: Another change for the hosts as Woodrow takes Ruiz's place.
CLOSE! Ayala almost grabs his second with an effort any striker would be proud of. He opens his body on the left of the area and grazes the bar with a curler.
CHANCE! What an end to this game! Fulham now go close to the match's sixth goal as McCormack curls just wide when going for his hat-trick.
OFF THE POST! Goodness me! Almost a freak equaliser for Boro as Ayala charges down a clearance and ends up poking the ball off the outside of the post.
FULHAM SUB: Final change for the Cottagers as big Matt Smith replaces Rodallega up front.
FULHAM SUB: Final change for the Cottagers as big Matt Smith replaces Rodallega up front.
GOAL! FULHAM 3-3 BORO (KIKE)
Incredible scenes in the capital! Boro are back on level terms and it's another substitute as Spanish striker Kike loops a header brilliantly over Bettinelli into the far corner.
FIVE minutes of added time. Surely Boro can't grab the win?!
Boro might be down to 10 men, but they have been fantastic since conceding their third goal. They're the side doing all the pressing as Forshaw tests Bettinelli with a low drive.
GOAL! FULHAM 4-3 BORO (MCCORMACK, HAT-TRICK)
OH DEAR BORO! Konstantopoulos goes up for a corner and is punished as McCormack battles his way into the Boro half and rounds the Greek stopper. What a game!
FULL-TIME: FULHAM 4-3 BORO
A truly barmy second half that ends with McCormack completing his hat-trick to effectively PROMOTE WATFORD. With Boro losing and Norwich currently drawing, the Hornets are going up.
WATFORD ARE PROMOTED TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE!
The final whistle goes at Rotherham, meaning Watford are four points clear of third-placed Middlesbrough. They haven't won the title, but they're guaranteed a top-two place. They will be in the Premier League for the first time in eight years next season.
A truly breathtaking afternoon's football in the Championship. What a league it is!
Fulham might be nowhere near the top, but they've played a huge part today and Watford will probably send a big gift to McCormack for his hat-trick. Just to confirm: Watford have been promoted to the Premier League.
Anyway, time for me to go and cool off after that madness. Thanks for joining SM this afternoon. Make sure you stick around for reaction aplenty from Craven Cottage and more throughout the evening. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
