Former Middlesbrough hero George Boateng says other results in the play-off battle reprieved his former club after their disappointing loss at Sheffield Wednesday.
With Bristol City and Coventry City, the two sides above them, both losing as well, the gap remains at three points following the Hillsborough setback.
Boro are away to the Sky Blues on the final day of nthe regular season and know that on Saturday, they must at least match the result of Frank Lampard's sideto take it to that last match.
"Because everybody lost, they all did each other a favour," Boateng told BBC Radio Tees.