Match report: Sheffield Wednesday 2 Middlesbrough 0

JUBILANT scenes of celebration and high drama at the top end of the Championship, while tears of joy and despair followed the twists and turns at the bottom. And then there was Middlesbrough.

What looked for so long like being a season of success on Teesside was over weeks ago, so the final whistle on the final day of a 46-match season brought a sense of relief. A painful campaign is over and it is time to move on.

Defeat was a fitting epitaph to a season which died well before the final Saturday. After all, that has been the story of 2013 for Middlesbrough - when hopes of a Premier League return disintegrated with every passing game.

When Sunderland referee Andy Haines called time on Sheffield Wednesday's 2-0 win on Saturday – a result which meant the Owls avoided relegation to League One – it marked the 15th defeat from Middlesbrough's last 21 league matches.

The run included just 12 points from the 63 available, winning three, and has resulted in the dispiriting drop from the upper echelons of the Championship and down to a 16th place finish which is their worst since relinquishing top-flight status in 2009.

“I still don't know what has gone wrong,” said Grant Leadbitter, last season's arrival from Ipswich, with the look of a player deeply frustrated by Middlesbrough's failure to deliver promotion this season.

“I don't really think it's even my place to say what I think might have gone wrong. That's up to the manager. But it has been disappointing for every one of us. We needed to do better overall. We can't accept similar performances next season. We need to come back stronger on June 24 for pre-season.

“If we want to be in the top two, we are not a million miles away, but we do need hard work. Work needs to be done throughout the club and us as players must take responsibility for a last four months which have not been good enough.”

With little but pride to play for at Hillsborough, perhaps it was always going to be Sheffield Wednesday, in need of three points to ensure they stayed up, more focused on performing on the final day.

But the manner of the first half display, which saw the Owls exploit gaps in the Middlesbrough team across the pitch, was worrying and provided a further reminder to Mowbray of the job he has on his hands to transform his squad in to a promotion-capable team next season over the summer.

“It should never be difficult facing a situation in professional football, whatever position you are in,” said Leadbitter. “You should try to enjoy every minute you play and put everything in to it, in whatever circumstances.

“As a footballer you have to get yourself up for the tests and we knew what we would be facing with Sheffield Wednesday. Being a footballer is the best job in the world and we have not been delivering results that are good enough. It's not acceptable.”

Mowbray must concentrate on bringing in greater creativity through the middle, with Leadbitter's strong running and eye for a pass in need of having someone alongside him capable of linking defence with attack.

Far too often that key role has been absent, which has meant the likes of top-scorer Scott McDonald dropping far too deep than a striker should be.

And against Sheffield Wednesday, even though the fixture was used to blood debutant Christian Burgess in to a three-man defence, weaknesses at the back were further highlighted once more.

As well as 36-year-old striker Steve Howard, who struggled all season in League One with Hartlepool, proving a nuisance before and after his ninth minute opener, the first half wing play of Jeremy Helan and half-fit Jermaine Johnson exposed weaknesses in Mowbray's decision to start with an adventurous three man defence.

After Howard brushed off the challenge of Burgess to capitalise on Miguel Llera's through pass to put Wednesday ahead, the home team sensed a victory and added a second when Lewis Buxton's corner just after half an hour was converted in a crowded box by ex-Boro striker Leroy Lita.

After half-time Sheffield Wednesday slowed down the tempo, but Middlesbrough were still unable to force goalkeeper Chris Kirkland in to a real save.

“It's not nice to go out the way we went out,” said Leadbitter. “I can't wait until next season to be honest to try to put the memories of this time around behind us.

“We need a few players in to help the players we have. The summer has to be one of hard work. When we come back we all need to be stronger. Are we in a mood? Of course, because it was all looking good in January. I'm just gutted really and there's nothing more to say.”