Morgan Whittaker marked his return to Middlesbrough's starting line-up with the winning goal as Boro laboured to a 1-0 Championship victory over already relegated Sheffield Wednesday at the Riverside Stadium.

Whittaker had been absent for four games before returning as a late substitute in the 2-2 draw at Ipswich Town on Sunday, and he scored the only goal, as part of a workmanlike performance, which was enough to earn all three points.

Wednesday, roared on throughout by a vocal away backing, were spirited in the second half as they aimed to continue their own positive form, but their winless run now stretches to 38 league games.

Boro had not won any of their previous six home matches and had lost their past two, so any trepidation felt among the home supporters was understandable, but Whittaker eased those nerves in the 11th minute when he pounced on a poor back-pass from Gabriel Otegbayo and smartly finished beyond goalkeeper Murphy Cooper.

Whittaker's return to the side was keenly felt and he warmed the palms of Cooper shortly after breaking the deadlock. Matt Targett and Tommy Conway then combined down the left to create a chance for David Strelec as Boro searched for a decisive second goal.

Wednesday were unbeaten having held Leicester City, champions Coventry City and Charlton Athletic in their previous three outings, but offered little in the first half and a wayward drive from Jarvis Thornton was as close as they came to drawing level in the first period.

Boro continued to dominate the ball and probe at the beginning of the second half, but Whittaker and then Aidan Morris - after good individual work when he retrieved possession in midfield - lacked conviction as they respectively tried their luck from distance.

While the scoreline remained 1-0, the Owls were never out of the contest and substitute Jamal Lowe prompted panic with his low shot inside the penalty area, after a rare foray forwards, deflected wide of the near post.

The visitors' vociferous calls for a penalty kick were waved away by referee David Webb when Max Lowe appealed for a handball against Morris, who was subsequently awarded a free-kick himself after he went to ground inside his own box.

Wednesday, throwing more caution to the wind, then forced Boro goalkeeper Sol Brynn into a smart, low save when 17-year-old Will Grainger curled a first-time effort towards the bottom corner.

The game became entertainingly open in the closing stages as Wednesday risked plenty and Boro looked to pick their lowly opponents off on the counter-attack. They came close when Jeremy Sarmiento dinked the ball over Cooper, but his effort was helped clear by the recovering Tayo Adaramola.

One goal was ultimately enough to end Boro's winless streak and, although unconvincing, it keeps their automatic promotion hopes alive.