MIDDLESBROUGH'S chances of reaching the Championship play-offs were brutally ended at the hands of Preston North End. 

They lost 4-1 at Deepdale to ensure another season in the second tier of English football for next year. 

Digital Sports Writer Matty Jones scored the players performances on a bad day in Lancashire...

BORO XI:

6 Daniels – Conceded four goals which he could do little about but made some good saves to keep the score down.

3 Dijksteel – Perhaps his worst display in a Boro shirt this season. All over the place, out muscled and ran ragged by Jakobsen.

4 Fry – Was ran ragged by the Preston attack. Although unfortunate for the own goal, he was central to a disorganised defence.

4 McNair – Miserable afternoon. Part of a shaky defence, got involved in off the ball incidents and the red card compounded a bad day.

5 Jones – Another afternoon where he produced very little in the final third. A big summer awaits for him to get back to his best.

5 Crooks – Was largely anonymous throughout the game and then got himself a record breaking 16th yellow card to end the game on.

6 Howson – Looked overran in midfield by Preston and was nowhere near his best but Chris Wilder admits he was Boro's best player.

4 McGree – His worst game in a Boro shirt. Could not get into the game at all, passes went array and was easily muscled out of play.

6 Tavernier – Boro’s only real positive note of the day. Kept going right the way through and got the goal that handed them a lifeline.

6 Watmore – You can always rely on the striker to put his all into the game. Fed off scraps and had little influence.

5 Sporar – Didn’t really offer anything going forward in attack. Just the one shot on target all afternoon.

Subs:

5 Coburn 62 – The game was virtually gone by the time he entered the field but he kept going in attack.

5 Balogun 62’ – Had one glorious chance to make it 3-2 but slammed his effort at Iversen.

N/A Connolly 66’

Subs not used: Lumley, Peltier, Bamba, Connolly, Balogun, Coburn, Bola

PRESTON XI: Iversen 7; Van Den Berg 7, Lindsay 7, Diaby 7 (Huntington 80’); Whiteman 7 (Ledson 84’); Potts 7, Johnson 8, Browne 8, McCann 8; Archer 8, Riis-Jakobsen 9 (O’Neill 82’)

Subs not used: Ripley, Cunningham, Evans, Maguire

Man of the match: Emil Riis-Jakobsen – He ran Boro ragged all afternoon with two goals and an assist. Outstanding display as he made it 21 for the season.