Bobby Thomas headed his first Coventry City goal of the season
Bobby Thomas, Haji Wright and Josh Eccles bagged the goals as Mark Robins' Coventry City claimed their second straight Championship win by beating 10-man Middlesbrough.
Fresh from their uplifting win over Luton Town, the Sky Blues took full advantage of Hayden Hackney's 22nd-minute dismissal for a second yellow card - the first red card of his career.
Thomas took full toll of the extra man advantage to head Coventry in front from Eccles' cross three minutes before the break.
The Sky Blues then finished off Boro with two goals in five minutes late on.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto set up last week's injury-time match-winner Wright for his third goal in as many games on 76 minutes before Eccles rounded off the scoring to propel the visitors within a point of the Championship top half - just three points behind 10th-placed Boro, who have now won just once in five games.
Middlesbrough had only lost twice at home in their previous 12 home league games - but the writing was on the wall from the moment that they went down to 10 men.
After being booked for bringing down Eccles on 12 minutes, Hackney then up-ended Brandon Thomas-Asante 10 minutes later - and was ordered off by referee Thomas Bramall.
It took until the 42nd minute before Coventry struck when centre-back Bobby Thomas was left unmarked inside the six-yard box on 42 minutes to power home his header from Eccles' cross.
By an ironic twist, all three goals for the Sky Blues by the former Barnsley man have now come against Yorkshire clubs: Leeds and Hull last season - and now Boro.
On a day when they kept only their second clean sheet in 13 league games this season, Coventry then eventually wrapped up victory with two quickfire strikes.
Wright added the final touch from close range to Sakamoto's cross before the US international played Eccles through to ice the cake with an 81st-minute third.
Middlesbrough now face a long trek to Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night before next Saturday's lunchtime home game with Luton Town.
Coventry host Derby County on Wednesday night before next Saturday afternoon's trip to current leaders Sunderland.
Coventry City manager Mark Robins told BBC CWR:"Regardless of what happened with the sending-off we were brilliant.
"The players showed a lot of courage and lot of quality. There were some really good performances out there.
"We lost Ellis Simms to a foot injury before the game but Brandon Thomas-Asante showed he's an able player and put them under a lot of pressure.
"It's important to get the clean sheet because we can't keep conceding goals."
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2024 7:06 pm