A brilliant Jack Rudoni brace secured Coventry City’s place in the 2024/25 Championship play-offs in a pulsating encounter at the CBS Arena.
City took the game to Boro, creating a string of early chances as Tatsuhiro Sakamoto forced the keeper to save, Ellis Simms had a close range effort blocked while Ben Sheaf and Haji Wright both fired over the bar in the opening 15 minutes.
The visitors were limited to a couple of decent chances in the opening 45, the first seeing Samuel Iling-Junior curl wide before Finn Azaz had a really good shot tipped onto the far post by a terrific save from Ben Wilson – back in goal in place of Brad Collins.
But Coventry’s endeavour paid off a minute before the break when Sakamoto twisted and turned his marker before sending in a perfectly weighted cross to the edge of the six-yard box where Rudoni rose high to direct a powerful header past the keeper at his bottom right-hand corner.
The stadium erupted as the Sky Blue Army celebrated the deserved breakthrough goal that set their side up for an exciting second half when Michael Carrick’s men were forced to go for it.
Wilson pulled off a brilliant reaction stop to deny Azaz an equaliser on the hour before Mark Travers denied Rudoni a second in the 69th with a low save.
Sub Brandon Thomas-Asante thumped the post and then had a close range effort blocked as City threatened to double their lead in an end to end encounter with both sides looking to score – Boro absolutely desperate, knowing they needed two goals.
Morgan Whittacker hit the post with nine minutes remaining but a desperate clearance from Bobby Thomas sent Thomas-Asante racing away on the counter attack in the 88th minute and the striker squared the ball to the supporting Rudoni who placed past the keeper to double the lead and secure the victory which moved City up to fifth in the table and sets up a semi-final play-off against bitter rivals Sunderland.
STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1
BEN WILSON: 9
Made his first start in seven long months and gave the home fans a scare with an early clearance outside his area and made his first save from Whittacker who hit a shot straight at him. Quick out of his area and alert to danger, earning praise from the fans who sang his song. Pulled off a brilliant diving save to push an Azaz effort onto the post before a superb reaction stop denied the forward a second half equaliser. Superb return.
MILAN VAN EWIJK: 8
Returned from a groin injury and immediately put his long throw into action from an early ball out of play, forcing Boro to defend deep in their box. Got high up the pitch on the overlap with Sakamoto, setting up an early chance for Simms. Made one brilliant recovering sliding tackle early on and his positioning was spot on to deal with Boro’s attempts to play diagonals.
BOBBY THOMAS: 8.5
Back after sitting out four games with a calf strain and look comfortable on the ball and made a really good tackle to dispossess Conway en-route to the box. Hit the clearance that sparked the counter attack for City’s second to top a brilliant return to the side.
LIAM KITCHING: 8
Calm and collected at the back as he resumed his central defensive partnership with Thomas. Stood up to the second pressure.
JAKE BIDWELL: 8
Back in the starting line-up in place of the suspended Jay Dasilva and made an early impression with a well timed sliding tackle. Solid throughout on a decent return to the side.
BEN SHEAF: 8
Wasted an early chance when he scooped it over the bar after a Sakamoto pull back into the box but was excellent in midfield where he made good use of the ball and helped link the play. Cool and calm on the ball when the pressure built after the break.
MATT GRIMES: 8.5/9
Stole in to win possession and excellent in the middle of the park where he threaded and spread some lovely passes to forward players and won so many second balls to ensure City retained possession and recycled time and time again in a dominant first half.
TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO: 8.5/9
Forced the keeper into his first save at the near post with just five minutes on the clock and was a real threat, cutting back and forth to tease his full-back and get balls into the box. Linked up really well with Van Ewijk on the right. Set up Rudoni with a lovely weighted cross for his headed goal just before the break. Worked really hard tracking back to help defend when required as Boro went for it after the break.
JACK RUDONI: 10
Showed impressive close control and technical ability in tight areas and really exciting on the ball, making things happen as City took the initiative before scoring another brilliant header to give City the lead before the break. Raced up to support BTA and slotted home City’s second to secure the victory two minutes from time.
HAJI WRIGHT: 8.5
Put an early effort from the left wide but caused Boro all manner of problems cutting in from the left and winning corners. Helped defend set-pieces at the other end, clearing one second half flag kick to the near post with a diving header. Really stretched Boro at times to take the second half pressure off.
ELLIS SIMMS: 7
Put an early chance wide at the near post and had another glorious chance minutes later in the 10th when a defender blocked his close-range effort at the last second as City took the game to Boro. Struggled to win his headers but worked hard throughout.
SUBSTITUTES:
BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE (71 mins, for Simms): 8
Got straight into the game with great movement and thumped a powerful shot onto the post as City almost doubled their lead. Broke away at speed and squared for Rudi’s second to kill the game dead. Brilliant cameo, making a real impact.
JAMIE ALLEN (83 mins, for Sheaf): 7
added fresh legs and much needed energy to help keep Boro at bay.
JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE (90 mins, for Thomas):
JOSH ECCLES (90 mins, for Sakamoto):
Subs (not used): Brad Collins (GK), Luis Binks, Jamie Paterson, Raphael Borges Rodrigues, Isaac Moore.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Mark Travers; Anfernee Dijksteel, Jonny Howson, Dael Fry, Neto Borges (67 minsm for Dalano Burgzorg); Aidan Morris, Hayden Hackney; Morgan Whittacker, Finn Azaz, Samuel Iling-Junior; Tommy Conway.
Subs (not used): Tom Glover (GK), Rav van den Berg, Daniel Barlaser, Kelechi Iheanacho, Marcus Forss, George Edmundson, Darragh Lenihan, Ryan Giles.
GOALS:
SKY BLUES: Rudoni (44, 88)
BORO:
REFEREE: Stuart Atwell.
ATTENDANCE: 31,451 (2,815 away)
NEXT UP: Sunderland (h), Friday, May 9.
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