Middlesbrough ended their Championship campaign with a 3-1 win over Watford in front of their own fans.
This final-day win meant that Boro finished eighth in the league, falling short of the play-offs by four points.
It is difficult to assess the season Micheal Carrick‘s side have had.
Boro were impressive last season, securing a play-off spot before losing to Coventry City in the semi-final.
They were tipped by many to win the league this season, however no wins in their first seven league games effectively ended that dream before it had really even started.
Carrick managed to turn things around, though, and the win over Watford at The Riverside can give fans optimism that next season could be a real success.
Watford boss Tom Cleverly was very complimentary of Middlesborough after the game and singled out one individual that he has been particularly impressed by.
Tom Cleverly impressed by Emmanuel Latte Lath
Middlesborough dominated proceedings against Watford and took the lead as top scorer Emmanuel Latte Lath turned home a Luke Ayling cross.
The visitors threatened to take a share of the spoils as Wesley Hoedt equalised with a header from a Watford corner on 73 minutes, but goals from Alex Bangura and Isaiah Jones ensured Boro finished the campaign with a win.
Ahead of the game, Cleverly had talked up Boro’s chances of going up next year, saying they will be ‘right in the mix next season’.
His view had not changed after the 3-1 defeat and the Watford manager, who achieved promotion as a player with Leicester City in 2009, discussed what it will take to achieve this feat.
Cleverly said: “Consistency is the key to doing it. When I got promoted as a player, we weren’t the best team in the league but we were probably the most consistent.”
He went on to say: “But Boro are a really promising side. They have some good young players, but the balance with experienced Championship players is key. Players like [Luke] Ayling, [Matt] Clarke.”
He singled out one of Saturday’s goalscorer’s for special praise, as he added: “I really, really like the centre-forward [Latte Lath]. They have good tools.”
Middlesbrough should prepare for Latte Lath interest
Latte Lath only signed for Boro last summer, as the club paid Atalanta £4.2 million to bring him to the club.
The 25-year-old has been a revelation this campaign and has improved as the season has gone on, scoring eight goals in the last six games of the campaign.
In total, the Ivorian scored 18 goals in all competitions this season, as well as providing seven assists according to Transfermarkt.
That kind of form attracts attention and Boro may have to brace themselves for the possibility they could lose Latte Lath just one year after purchasing the forward.
Carrick will hope this is not the case, having seen Chuba Akpom leave for Ajax last summer after leading the line for Boro and firing 28 Championship goals.
Having already played for nine clubs in his career to date, though, the striker could well be happy to settle at a club with Premier League ambitions.