Middlesbrough are definitely relegated as Chelsea moved within a single victory of the title after a 3-0 triumph at Stamford Bridge.
Diego Costa and Marcos Alonso were both on target before the break and Nemanja Matic later added a third as the hosts totally dominated.
Boro were never in the contest and could in truth have lost by a far more heavy margin.
Alonso immediately had a volley turned onto the crossbar by Brad Guzan and David Luiz was narrowly over from a free-kick.
The recalled Cesc Fabregas also side-footed wide after Costa had almost taken advantage of Pedro’s inviting delivery.
However, Costa soon tucked the hosts in front from Fabregas’ cross midway through the opening half.
Just over ten minutes later Alonso extended the lead when finishing Victor Moses’ deep ball towards the far post – his angled effort going in off keeper Guzan.
Goalscorer Alonso saw a later free-kick deflected over and Pedro also struck the crossbar at the beginning of the second-half.
Both Cesar Azpilicueta and Alonso similarly went close as the pressure continued before Fabregas was only denied by Calum Chambers’ block.
But Matic controlled perfectly from Fabregas and drove a third goal as the one-way procession continued twenty minutes into the second period.
Substitute Grant Leadbitter’s reply from distance suddenly produced momentary action for home keeper Thibaut Courtois, while Pedro and Moses could have further added damage at the other end.
Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, David Luiz (Terry 84), Cahill, Moses, Fabregas, Matic, Alonso, Pedro (Chalobah 81), Hazard (Willian 72), Diego Costa
subs (unused): Begovic, Zouma, Ake, Loftus-Cheek
Goals: Diego Costa (23), Alonso (34), Matic (65)
Middlesbrough: Guzan, Fabio, Chambers, Gibson, Friend, de Roon, Clayton, Forshaw (Leadbitter 56), Traore (Bamford 57), Negredo (Gestede 83), Downing
subs (unused): Konstantopoulos, Bernardo, Barragan, Guedioura
Ref: C. Pawson
Att: 41,500
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