Middlesbrough 1-0 Coventry City: Sporar goal puits Boro into top six
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Sporar scored his seventh goal of the season for Middlesbrough against Coventry
Andraz Sporar's second-half goal moved Middlesbrough up into the play-off places as they secured a 1-0 win over Coventry City.
There was little to separate the sides in the opening 45 minutes as high winds swirled and clear-cut chances in front of goal were limited.
Kyle McFadzean saw a volley clatter off the bar for the Sky Blues but minutes later Sporar scored at the other end for the home side - his seventh goal of the season.
Paddy McNair went close to a second for Boro, who are now sixth and above Huddersfield on goal difference, but was denied when his effort hit the woodwork.
There was little to separate the two teams prior to kick-off, with Middlesbrough one place and two points ahead of Coventry in the table.
The first 45 minutes on Teesside played out as such with an even half in terms of possession and chances.
Sporar was denied the opening goal when defender Dominic Hyam put his body in the way and McNair had a free-kick from the edge of the box well saved by Simon Moore.
Callum O'Hare produced Coventry's best effort at the other end as Joe Lumley had to make a save just before the break.
Five minutes after the restart, McFadzean's powerful volley struck the woodwork, prompting Boro manager Chris Wilder to ring the changes to his side.
On came Folarin Balogun - on loan from Arsenal - who squared the ball across goal to Sporar, who calmly broke the deadlock.
Coventry searched for an equaliser in the final half an hour, with Lumley diverting a header from O'Hare away, but it was McNair who almost doubled the lead for Boro when his header struck the post, and they are now five points outside the top six.
Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Tees:
"It's a really good win. We recognised before the game that they're a really talented outfit. They've been together for a few years, they play in a certain way and they've got that continuity.
"There's been some great wins since I've arrived, especially at the Riverside, and the support again was brilliant because the performance was a little bit edgy, a little bit nervy and the conditions weren't great.
"I've said all along that I want to have options off the bench and we've certainly got that now and competition for places.
"I said when I came in that we really have to make sure that our home form is solid and five wins in a row at home is something we can be very proud of."
Coventry City boss Mark Robins told BBC CWR:
"In terms of an away performance it's up there with the best that you can produce.
"The disappointing thing is that we get it wrong once and they get behind our defenders, it hits our goalkeeper and goes in.
"The good thing is we're getting closer all the time to these top teams and we'd like to turn these results into wins and draws away from home.
"There's a load of positives to take and a some point that will turn around and we'll start to get the results the performances deserve."
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