Steve Agnew's side knew that a defeat at Stamford Bridge would result in their return to the Championship after just one season in the top flight and they proved unable to avoid that fate, marking the fourth time they have been demoted from the Premier League.
First-half goals from Diego Costa and Marcos Alonso left Middlesbrough with a huge task and there was to be no miraculous fightback, Nemanja Matic extending the league leaders' advantage after the break.
