Brentford's dreams of promotion to the Premier League evaporated following a 3-0 defeat to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Friday night.

It proved a step too far for the Bees, as their opponents first stifled their attempts to overturn a 2-1 deficit, before some clinical finishing meant Mark Warburton's last game as Brentford manager would end in defeat.

Boro had an early chance when Lee Tomlin broke down the left, but Harlee Dean made a perfect covering tackle to stop him in his tracks.

Brentford's first sight of goal came when they worked the ball from the left wing into the centre, where Jota's long range effort was easily saved by Dimi Konstantopoulous.

Middlesbrough took the lead midway through the half when Albert Adomah caused problems down the right, before the ball fell to Tomlin on the edge of the box and a great strike found the top right corner.

Alan Judge had a half chance with a strike from 25 yards, but it sailed wide of the left hand post.

Brentford's best chance of the half came three minutes before the break.

A teasing cross into the six yard box by Judge fell between Jonathan Douglas and Andre Gray who both failed to connect fully as the ball ended up in the hands of Konstantopoulous.

The Bees started the second half with real purpose, as they had to. Within minutes a great low cross from Toumani Diagouraga slide agonisingly wide of both Jota and Gray in the six yard box.

Some nifty footwork from Alex Pritchard saw him cross into the six yard box, but Konstantopoulous claimed the ball with a commanding take.

Almost immediately the home side broke down the other end and a composed finished from Kike saw him slot the ball past David Button.

Tomlin had another good chance when he broke through the middle, but James Tarkowski put in a great covering tackle to disrupt him.

Middlesbrough sealed things when Albert Adomah exchanged passes with Tomlin and danced past Button before firing home in the 78th minute.

Brentford: Button; Odubajo, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell (sub Dallas 60); Pritchard, Judge, Diagouraga, Jota (sub Toral 60), Douglas; Gray.

Subs (not used): Bonham, McCormack, Smith, Long, Craig.

Attendance: 33,266