Akpom scores again as Middlesbrough cruise to home win against Preston North End

Middlesbrough continued their push for automatic promotion to the Premier League with a big home win against Preston North End at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

In the provisional standings, Boro are third, three-points behind second-placed Sheffield United, but have played a game more than the Blades with eight matches left to the end of the regular season. 

Chuba Akpom maintained his run of scoring form as he broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when he prodded home from close range, assisted by Cameron Archer.

The 27-year-old has now scored in his past four games in the Championship, which is his joint-best scoring run since his arrival at Middlesbrough. 

Akpom has netted five goals this month, two against Reading, one each against Swansea City, Stoke City and Preston North End, taking his tally to 24 goals in 31 games in the division. 

Six minutes into the second half, Cameron Archer doubled the advantage when he skipped inside and slammed home against his former club and put the game to bed with his second of the game at minute 58 after he was teed up by Akpom. 

Marcus Forss added more gloss to the scoreline with Boro's fourth goal in stoppage time. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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