Northern Echo
THE hallmark of successful football team is making sure of winning games in different ways and Middlesbrough have to show their gritty and industrial nature to get the better of Luton Town and climb back into the Championship play-offs. Who doesn’t love a bit of Teesside steel?
Fortress Riverside remained intact as Boro won an eighth league game in a row on home soil as a goal either side of the break got the better of the in form Hatters.
BBC
Middlesbrough finished off a dream week with a promotion-push-boosting win over fellow play-off challengers Luton Town at the Riverside.
Having dispatched Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup in midweek, goals from Paddy McNair and Duncan Watmore secured three points which moved them into the Championship top six...
...Chris Wilder's arrival at the Riverside has coincided with a remarkable upturn in form, built on their home dominance.
His former side Sheffield United - who are one point and one place below them - lie in wait at Bramall Lane in midweek, but this was Middlesbrough's ninth home win in a row in all competitions, with Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest among the teams to have been overcome on the banks of the Tees.
The victory was made even more impressive because Luton arrived in the north east on a run of five league wins from six.
Nathan Jones' side scored too late to alter the result, but remain part of the play-off picture nonetheless ahead of Tuesday's game against 11th-placed Coventry - with just seven points covering the teams from fourth to 12th.
Yorkshire Post
Middlesbrough made it eight home wins in a row in the league for the first time since 1998 by beating Luton 2-1 at the Riverside.
The latest victory for Chris Wilder’s team lifted them above Luton and into the Sky Bet Championship’s play-off zone once again.
It was a tough battle on Teesside in which neither side really got going but Paddy McNair’s fifth goal of the season in the 17th minute from the penalty spot paved the way for the victory.
Substitute Duncan Watmore prevented a nervy finish when he wrapped up the points with three minutes left by scoring his sixth of the campaign - although Harry Cornick pulled one back for Luton in the sixth minute of added time.
The Sun
CHELSEA must conquer Fortress Riverside in the FA Cup after Middlesbrough made it nine straight home wins.
A Paddy McNair penalty and late Duncan Watmore strike moved Chris Wilder’s men above Luton and into the top six.
With three away games to come before the Blues hit Teesside, Boro will be hoping to make it the perfect ten once they return in a fortnight on the back of their best home run since the 1997/98 campaign.
Teesside Live
As the players celebrated with the fans they then headed down the tunnel but Wilder stayed out on the pitch a little longer as he applauded the home fans.
He even got animated as he headed down the tunnel waving his fists in delight.
It emphasised a really big win for his side, and another where the home fans backing the team really helped them along.
It's getting to stage where every point matters now and Boro grinding out wins like that could be vital. That passionate response of Wilder at full-time looked as much relief as it was delight. A significant three points for Boro.