Middlesbrough suffer late defeat to Frank Lampard’s Coventry

Sky Bet Championship league leaders Coventry City saw off a valiant Middlesbrough fightback, as they earned a valuable three points at the Riverside Stadium to move 10 points clear at the top with a 4-2 win.

Early goals from Ellis Simms and Liam Kitching gave Coventry an early advantage, however goals from Morgan Whittaker and an own goal from Bobby Thomas levelled the game for Boro. At the death, two Coventry goals from Simms and Kitching, again, sealed the victory for the Sky Blues.

After appointing Kim Hellberg as new Head Coach, second-placed Middlesbrough were looking to bounce back from Saturday’s draw with Oxford, while Coventry went into the game in flying form, seven points clear of Middlesbrough in second place, losing only one of the 16 Championship games this season – scoring 43 goals while only conceding 15.

Boro started the game very strong and controlled possession however Coventry were the ones to take the early lead stunning the Middlesbrough faithful. A lung-busting run from Victor Torp found Simms in space just inside the box whose strike over the stranded Sol Brynn in goal nestled into the top corner.

Coventry doubled their lead thanks to a moment of brilliance from Matt Grimes who volleyed the ball into the box after the corner was cleared straight onto the head of Liam Kitching who guided the header past the keeper.

Boro fought back well and won a goal back before half time. Allan Browne’s ball in met the head of Alfie Jones who flicks the ball to the far post before Whittaker calmly volleyed the ball into the corner of the goal.

After the interval Middlesbrough came out the much better team, pinning Coventry back as they searched for the equaliser. Whittaker’s effort from outside of the box produced an outstanding save from Carl Rushworth in the Coventry goal, diving to his right and producing an outstretched arm to prevented the effort reaching into the top corner.

From the corner, a comical Thomas own goal brought Boro level, the corner was lofted in – missing everyone at the front post and meeting the feet of Thomas who was un-marked and under no pressure. His attempted clearance was scuffed into the goal.

A third nearly came when a long searching ball from Hayden Hackney met Callum Brittain in the Coventry penalty area, his first time ball cought the defence off guard and left Tommy Conway with only the keeper to beat. His effort is remarkably skied over the bar from six yards out.

Frank Lampard’s Coventry seemed to have luck on their side and as the game closed in to the 90 minute Coventry struck out of nowhere. A looping ball in from Grimes found Thomas at the far post, his effort produced a brilliant save however straight to the feet of Kitching who reacts first in the box to prod the ball into the empty goal.

As Boro were chasing a goal Coventry were able to catch them out again almost straight after the restart. Kitching found Jay Da Silva at the edge of the box who lofted the ball to the back post to find Simms who is able to head the ball in from a yard out with keeper Brynn unable to get across his line quick enough to keep it out.

Boro next play Derby County at home on November 29 at 3:00.