Middlesbrough 1-1 Coventry: A vital draw earns Coventry a play-off spot

Photo – BBC

Coventry claimed a vital point against Middlesbrough on the final day of the Championship season, setting up a two-leg clash with Boro in the play-offs.

The Sky Blues knew a victory would guarantee them a play-off spot, and they showed their intent within the first two minutes, after Gustavo Hamer forced a save out of Zack Steffen.

Josh Eccles went on to test Steffen again, with a long ranged strike going narrowly wide of the post.

Hamer broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, drilling a shot straight past Steffen into the bottom right corner.

Coventry chased down Boro every time they had the ball, looking all but certain to finish the first-half in the lead.

However, in the 40th minute, Cameron Archer took advantage of a quickly taken corner, driving a lose ball into the top right-hand corner, drawing the hosts level.

Middlesbrough had a lot more of the ball in the second-half, however, they struggled to really test Ben Wilson.

Riley McGree would go on to have a decent attempt, curling the ball on goal from outside the 18-yard-box, but it would land in to Wilson’s safe hands.

The tension was immense the more the game went on, but as news of goals else where across the league started rolling in, the Sky Blues secured their play-off spot.

The clubs are set to clash again on Sunday May 14 at the Coventry Building Society Arena, and at the Riverside on Wednesday May 17 for a place at Wembley in the play-off final on Saturday 27 May.