Match Review: Boro 1 Coventry City 3

The curse of Coventry City struck again at the Riverside as Boro tumbled to a first defeat of 2024.

Josh Coburn's second goal in as many games gave Boro the lead, but despite dominating for long periods and being kept at bay by Coventry goalkeeper Brad Collins, Michael Carrick's depleted squad eventually succumbed to the Sky Blues once again.

Carrick was forced into making more changes with Anfernee Dijksteel the latest injury casualty while Sammy Silvera and Riley McGree have both joined up with Australia.

With the exception of Hayden Coulson the eight remaining substitutes had a total of six Boro league starts between – all of them belonging to Alex Bangura.

The visit of Coventry City was the latest in a run of games for Boro, and came on the back of a terrific win against Huddersfield the previous Friday.

And Carrick’s men almost got off to a perfect start when Isaiah Jones escaped the clutches of goalkeeper Collins, but Bobby Thomas was on hand to make a goal-line clearance to prevent an early opener.

Collins also pulled off double save to deny Sam Greenwood and Morgan Rogers before Jones had another goal-bound effort blocked.

The opener did come, though, on the half-hour, when Coburn marked his return to the starting line-up by glancing home a Jones cross to make it 1-0.

But the lead lasted barely four minutes before Tatsuhiro Sakamoto followed up after a Coventry corner was headed against the bar to apply the finishing touch to level matters.

Boro almost restored the advantage before the break when a sweeping end-to-end move ended with Rogers having a shot deflected wide of the mark.

It also took two more great saves from Collins to deny Greenwood and Lukas Engel before the break.

Tom Glover was the first of the two keepers to be called upon in the second half when he got down well to deny Haji Wright.

Boro should have had a free-kick early in the second period when Luis Binks needlessly sent Coburn tumbling off the ball, but play continued.

The next chance fell the way of the visitors when Ellis Simms fired over the top from close range, but Coventry were soon in front.

Simms was involved again – his initial shot was saved – and Wright was on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Worse was to come for Boro when Sakamoto arrived late at the far post to head home a cross after some neat build-up play by the visitors.

Rogers and Jonny Howson both had attemps to reduce the deficit, but even with six minutes of stoppage time, it was a game too far for a Boro squad which is being tested to the full.