Aston Villa loanee Cameron Archer netted twice and teed up two more as Middlesbrough scored all of their first five shouts on target against Norwich CityMiddlesbrough overpowered Norwich City with a clinical display to keep alive their faint hopes of automatic promotion.
Cameron Archer teed up Aaron Ramsey to tap in the opener against his former side before Hayden Hackney's half-volley made it 2-0 with the first of four goals in 10 minutes before the break.
Archer slotted in the third and then promptly snuffed out the brief hope given by Josh Sargent's finish by punishing more sloppy defending with a powerful finish.
Chuba Akpom tapped in a fifth soon after the break thanks to Archer who added a second assist to his goal double as Boro moved above Luton on goal difference into third in the Championship.
A first win in four moves Michael Carrick's side within five points of second-placed Sheffield United with four matches remaining, but having played two games more as their hopes of a Premier League return now look anchored to the play-offs.
A draw would have lifted Norwich into the play-off places, but they remain a point outside the top six in eighth and their bid appears to be flagging after a run of one win in seven.
Sargent pulled a good early chance wide as the visitors began brightly, but Boro made them pay with their first attack as great interplay from Akpom and Archer carved open the visitors for Ramsey's fifth goal in seven starts.
City should have levelled when Zack Steffen pushed Sam McCallum's dangerous ball into Sargent's path, but the prostrate Boro goalkeeper got a hand to his close-range effort.
The match was decided in a frantic close to the first half as Hackney doubled the lead a minute after Darragh Lenihan's headed finish had been ruled out for offside.
The goal drew protests from the Canaries, unhappy that the hosts had played on and scored with Sam McCallum down injured, but they only had themselves to blame when Archer easily found space to convert Alex Mowatt's pass for 3-0.
Boro returned the compliment when Paddy McNair was caught in possession by Sargent who ran on and slid a neat finish through Steffen's legs.
But a Norwich defence missing first-choice centre-halves Grant Hanley and Ben Gibson, then poked Ryan Giles' free-kick straight to the unmarked Archer to kill the game.
City had lost just one of their previous eight games on the road, but were already on track for their heaviest defeat of the season before Akpom netted for the eighth successive home game - matching the Championship record shared with Jarrod Bowen and Tammy Abraham.
Pressing for a consolation on a miserable evening, Gabriel Sara's powerful strike smacked the post and the Canaries should have had a penalty when Ryan Giles brought down Max Aarons, who later forced a smart stop from Steffen.
Line-ups
Middlesbrough
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Steffen
14Smith17McNair26Lenihan3Giles
16Howson30Hackney
21Forss29Akpom11A Ramsey
10Archer
1Steffen14Smith17McNair26Lenihan3Giles16HowsonSubstituted forBarlaserat 84'minutes30HackneySubstituted forBolaat 83'minutes21ForssSubstituted forJonesat 68'minutes29AkpomSubstituted forCrooksat 83'minutes11A RamseySubstituted forMowattat 26'minutes10ArcherSubstitutes
2Jones4Mowatt7Barlaser15Dijksteel23Roberts25Crooks27BolaNorwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
28Gunn
2Aarons4Omobamidele19Sørensen15McCallum
17Gomes Sara46Gibbs
13Marquinhos24Sargent25Hernández
22Pukki
28Gunn2Aarons4Omobamidele19SørensenBooked at 70mins15McCallumSubstituted forGiannoulisat 56'minutes17Gomes Sara46Gibbs13MarquinhosSubstituted forByramat 57'minutes24SargentSubstituted forNúñezat 84'minutes25HernándezSubstituted forRoweat 57'minutes22PukkiSubstituted forIdahat 57'minutesSubstitutes
3Byram8Hayden11Idah26Núñez27Rowe30Giannoulis33McGovernReferee:Josh SmithAttendance:26,429Live Text
Match ends, Middlesbrough 5, Norwich City 1.
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 5, Norwich City 1.
Offside, Norwich City. Sam Byram tries a through ball, but Max Aarons is caught offside.
Foul by Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City).
Alex Mowatt (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Angus Gunn.
Attempt saved. Cameron Archer (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Matt Crooks.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Ryan Giles.
Substitution, Norwich City. Marcelino Núñez replaces Josh Sargent.
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Daniel Barlaser replaces Jonny Howson.
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Matt Crooks replaces Chuba Akpom.
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Marc Bola replaces Hayden Hackney.
Foul by Jonathan Rowe (Norwich City).
Cameron Archer (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Ryan Giles.
Attempt missed. Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Chuba Akpom.
Adam Idah (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Patrick McNair (Middlesbrough).
Attempt saved. Max Aarons (Norwich City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Sam Byram.
Attempt missed. Jonny Howson (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
