Middlesbro Sheff Wed 1 0 YES, it looks like a long shot, but Middlesbrough are still in with a chance of getting into the play-offs.

As for Sheffield Wednesday, the trapdoor is creaking as they fight to stay out of League One after falling to Scott "Macca" McDonald's winner.

His third goal in a Boro shirt separated the sides, but with only 43 goals from 44 games it's obvious what the problem is for Alan Irvine's side. Yet the Owls manager is philosophical that his side have the drive and determination to stay up.

"If everyone wins their remaining games, we go down. If we win three games I think we'll be safe, though it might not need that many," he said.

"I'm extremely disappointed with this result. I felt that we were the better team for most of the game."

Boro chose not to play Gary O'Neil, knowing they would have to pay Portsmouth a £1million bonus if they did.

Boss Gordon Strachan said: "It was an entertaining game for this time of the year. We are still looking to improve but I can't fault our work-rate."

Jermaine Johnson led the Wednesday attack and almost caught out keeper Brad Jones with an overhead kick that landed on the roof of the net.

He then outmuscled David Wheater but miskicked with only Jones to beat.

Boro clawed their way back and five minutes before the break McDonald bore down on the visitors' goal to make it three strikes in five Riverside outings. His 22-yard effort took a wicked deflection off Mark Beevers and flashed in.

Only the woodwork prevented a 62nd-minute equaliser for Wednesday, Darren Potter's corner finding Luke Varney, whose glancing header bounced to safety.

Middlesbrough: Jones 6 - Hoyte 6, Wheater 6, McManus 7, Naughton 7 - Williams 7, *ROBSON 8, Arca 6, Franks 7 - McDonald 7, Lita 5. SHEFFIELD WED: Grant 7 - Nolan 6, *PURSE 8, Beevers 7, Spurr 6 - Soares 6, Tudgay 5 (Jeffers, 80mins), O'Connor 6 (Esajas, 75mins), Potter 6, Varney 6 - Johnson 6. REFEREE: J Moss 6.