Middlesbrough moved level on points with Championship leaders Coventry with a narrow victory over Norwich City.

Captain Hayden Hackney's brilliant long-range strike after 17 minutes proved to be enough to make it five successive wins - their best run since October 2023.

When they started that winning streak, they were nine points behind the Sky Blues, but now only an inferior goal difference separates the top two as Boro's dreams of a Premier League return increase.

The Canaries remained in the game but Jovon Makama missed a chance to equalise deep into the second half as Boro hung on.

Defeat ended Norwich's run of three straight league wins as they slipped one place to 19th although they still remain four points clear of the relegation zone.

In a meeting of two of the Championship's in-form teams, both sides had early chances with Hackney denied by Norwich keeper Vladan Kovacevic and home stopper Sol Brynn twice making saves from Makama.

But the opening goal was something special as Boro forced the visitors into conceding possession deep in their own half before Riley McGree squared the ball into the path of Hackney.

Boro's captain took it on the half-turn around 22 yards out and, after one touch, he hit a beauty beyond the reach of Kovacevic into the far top corner.

It was further evidence of just how important the 23-year-old - often linked with moves to Premier League clubs - is to this Middlesbrough side.

Kim Hellberg's side went in search of a second but Morgan Whittaker could not adjust his feet as he stabbed wide from Adilson Malanda's cut-back.

They were appealing for a red card then when Conway was brought down by Kovacevic after going past the goalkeeper outside the area, but referee Ben Toner deemed there was a covering defender and only booked the Bosnian.

The Canaries' best moment arrived when Anis Ben Slimane had a shot blocked and it ran loose to Makama, but the striker, with nine goals in his previous 10 games, blazed wide.

There was still time for Dael Fry, on as a substitute, to make a huge goal-saving challenge on Makama after he had flicked the ball past Brynn.

Boro now have to wait nine days before their next game when they head to Sheffield United on 9 February.

Coventry play once in that time, while Hull City and Ipswich Town - in third and fourth, and five and seven points behind the Teessiders respectively - play twice, so Hellberg's men will have a clearer idea of how the promotion picture is looking by then.

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees:

"The last five minutes of this game were in some ways the ugliest thing I have seen on a football pitch and in some ways the most beautiful thing.

"It was passion, everyone involved. The crowd was unbelievable, the players understood everything in terms of playing the way we needed to play in those five minutes, so I think that was very, very beautiful and something very special.

"It felt like it wasn't our best day with the ball but then [it's about] how you defend like that in the second half. That is against a team that has done four wins in a row.

"How you defend with that heart and that passion and doing that together and still keeping them away from clear chances - the passion and the energy, that's what I'm going to take away with me. It was unbelievable."

Norwich City head coach Philippe Clement told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"For sure [we deserved something]. Everybody felt that. The crowd of Middlesbrough was really nervous because they saw there was a competitive team against them.

"They've seen a lot of games this season where their team was so dominant and overflowing opponents. That was not the case today.

"Great credit to my players with what they showed against a team with the best physical data this season, so a lot of positive points to take.

"Of course, I am gutted because I hate to lose, and my players also, but there are different ways to lose.

"This was losing with pride and with honour and giving your all and we were close with Jovon to getting a 1-1."