Borges back in the starting line-up:
Does this mean a back three with wingbacks or is he pushing Howson into midfield for a 4-3-3 or something similar.
Hard to know.
UTB
@selwynoz. I would favour the 433 with Howson in midfield but I not sure about more changes/different personnel in defence again. Can’t remember the last time we had a traditional back four with defenders in defence. 😎
I suspect Iling-Junior may end up in a more forward role - we'll soon see - looking forward to it!
Well we have started with Howson at CB and already we can see Carrick’s mistake in seeing Howson is not a defender.. All Coventry
From the Beeb's scene-setting text commentary:
Sky Blues and Boro set for play-off quarter-final
You don’t need a maths GCSE to know five into two doesn’t go.
In the race for the play-offs Coventry are sitting above the dotted line going into the final day, a point behind fifth-placed Bristol City, above seventh-placed Millwall on goal difference, with a one-point gap to Blackburn and a three-point cushion over Middlesbrough, who head to the CBS Arena for what feels like a single-leg play-off quarter-final.
Boro need a win to stand any chance of a top-six finish, though even that would be in vain if Blackburn or Millwall win at Sheffield United or Burnley – unless, that is, the Robins lose at home to Preston, in which case Boro would make it with a victory, so long as Rovers and the Lions don’t both win.
Clear as mud? Good. That’s why Michael Carrick calls this "no ordinary game" and said Boro's form of one win in five goes out the window.
As for the Sky Blues, it's a case of win and in, though a draw would be enough if Millwall and Blackburn both fail to win or if Bristol City lose and one of Millwall or Blackburn fail to win.
Frank Lampard's men have won six of their last seven at home, but are limping towards the finishing line with just seven points from their past seven matches overall and Lampard has urged his player to embrace the occasion of what is effectively a knockout game.
Lampard axes keeper Collins for finale
Big call before the crucial match against Boro from Coventry boss Frank Lampard, who has chosen to drop keeper Brad Collins after several high-profile blunders during a six-game run in the side.
Ben Wilson has been handed his fourth start of the season and first since 5 October under former boss Mark Robins.
Opposite number Michael Carrick has also shuffled his Boro pack with Brazilian left-back Neto Borges returning after missing five games with an ankle injury.
His return means Samuel Iling-Junior will play further forward with Finn Azaz deployed in a central role with Kelechi Iheanacho dropping to the bench.
First yellow to Hackney. Trademark pull back after losing his man.
HH booked in the 17th minute - CJ:
Boro invite pressure on themselves. Sloppy Azaz touch puts Hackney in trouble. Hackney forced into making a cynical foul that earns him an early booking. He has to be careful now.
Predictably, the Sky Blues eventually take the lead through Rudoni a minute before half-time. 🙁
1 - 0 and 10th
Predictably, the Sky Blues eventually take the lead through Rudoni a minute before half-time. 🙁
CJ:
After a really positive period, Boro shoot themselves in the foot. Dijksteel gives it away in his own half. Coventry win possession, work it to their right where Sakamoto crosses and Rudoni is unmarked to head home.
Famous last words by the Boro Live commentary team... "All the results are currently going Boro's way" ... ten seconds later Coventry score 🙄
Boro struggling to defend down the flanks and also haven't created anything until the end of the second half - not sure if they can score 2 as the attacking unit not looking like they're gelling together.
A mountain to climb...
@stircrazy Howson. Perhaps we should have played van den Berg instead. Maybe.
Still 45 mins and three matches to go. Up the Boro!
Boro have only won twice this season after falling behind - both were against Oxford...
Come on Boro - Bristol and Millwall are now out of the equation a win will get us to the playoffs!
Forget what I said about Bristol - they've just scored 2 goals - so it is possible!
Boro have rode their luck somewhat this afternoon, but have not made the most of the opportunities they have had. Even the Commentator said Boro are looking for the perfect goal.
All through the middle and very little from the flanks,
Can any of the subs pull a couple of rabbits out of the hat: van den Berg, Forss & Iheanacho on for Howson, Dijksteel & Morris in the 78th minute...
Can any of the subs pull a couple of rabbits out of the hat: van den Berg, Forss & Iheanacho on for Howson, Dijksteel & Morris in the 78th minute...
Giles on for Iliing-Junior in the 85th.
All over: Coventry (Rudoni again) adds a second in the 87th minute.
Well Boro went for it in the second half 19 shots - hit the woodwork several times and their keeper made some good saves but why didn't they play with the same intensity in the first half? It could have been a different game if they'd forced a nervous Coventry back and defending deep.
April 29 2025
"The player who has impressed me most over the past few games has been Jack Rudoni. He is a real force to be reckoned with as a creative attacking midfielder with a terrific engine. He will take some stopping.
He particularly interests me as a signing from Huddersfield Town, bought for just over £3.5m last Summer. We must have been well aware of him, since we were scouting Burgzorg at around the same time. I hope that Saturday's game isn't a definitive demonstration that we went for the wrong man"
'Nuff said.
I guess the most disappointing thing is that wins over Sheff Wed and Norwich would have seen us in the play-offs - as would've a win today over Coventry. We had our chances but blew them - which really has been the story of the season and it's that which should be the focus of the postmortem as the club decide on how to rebuild for next season.
Didn’t think we played too badly, especially the 2nd half. Just curious about our mindset in the first half. Very negative when we needed to be on the front foot from the outset. We all know that losing away to Coventry is not the reason for our failure this season. Time for the inquest to begin and hopefully some accountability for our short comings.
The players deserve credit for their efforts . They had numerous chances but didn’t take them. Coventry also had a lot of chances.
The bottom line is that ,over the season, the team didn’t deserve to finish in the top 6.
It looked as though Hackney was in tears when consoled by Carrick- could it be his last Boro game?
My Huddersfield friends expressed amazement at the signing of Burgzorg when their standout player was Rudoni. Scored 2 goals and looked the part today.
So the season is over and the usual comings and goings rumours will start in a few weeks.
My final comment is a huge thank you for the talented writers introducing the next game and to all those who add their comments on this site. Living 90 plus miles away, I don’t come across Boro supporters for a bit of Boro chat and so have to make do with a bit of general football chat. This site puts me in touch with fellow Boro supporters and so long may it continue.
Best wishes to all and an enjoyable and relaxing summer.
Philip of Huddersfield
👍😁👍
What are the words of the song " when the going get tough the tough get going" well our team have nothing in common with those lyrics. We lack fight, desire and tactically we are one dimensional something we have said time and again. Too many square pegs in round holes.
It was still in our own hands but the team couldn't drag itself out of its torpor
I think we should twist and replace Carrick we are steadily getting worse and the team will be totally different next season?
36 points behind top 2 and 15 points above relegation, rubbish, from last 5 games we have 5 points relegation form.
At least we don't support Luton and their PL to league 1 in 2 seasons but that is probably schadenfreude.
Well I'm going to try and forget about it until next season
@eboroacum I agree, I don’t think we played badly, their keeper pulled off 2/3 good saves and we hit the bar/post a couple of times. Listening to Michael Carrick’s post match interview, I got the impression he expects to be here next season. Now the craziness of rumours will start, who is staying, who is going (and for how much) who is coming in and again for how much, trouble is so many people post so many unfounded rumours and there are many gullible people willing to repeat them, I prefer to wait until a reliable source publishes the said rumour, rather than people who repeat everything they hear, hoping to be first and correct once. Have a great summer everyone and I will publish the challenge final league table and the playoffs over the next couple of days.
Come on BORO.