Ex-Middlesbrough midfielder on trial with divisional rivals, Reading could land £8 windfall

The victory saw Boro move to within five points of sixth place, as they look to make up the ground on the likes of Reading and Barnsley with just nine matches of the season left to go.

Speaking after the game, Lilywhites boss Alex Neil slammed the match officials for sending off midfielder Alan Browne in the first-half, after he had the last word in an off-the-ball scrap with Sam Morsy:

Neil contended: “It’s an extremely poor decision. I have seen it back. Sam Morsy hits him with his forearm on the back of his head, he is right in front of them.

“Alan instinctively reacts because not only has he been hit once, it’s twice. It is hard to accept and understand how the ref and assistant can see Alan’s part but not Sam Morsy’s part. It changed the game in their favour. Their player is the aggressor and our player reacted in that instance.”

Next up, Boro will look to continue racking up the points this weekend, when they travel to take on Millwall in the capital tomorrow afternoon.

Here are today's biggest transfer stories and the latest team news involving Middlesbrough and the rest of the Championship, as the build-up to the upcoming weekend's action continues: