Not sure my colleague Ged read the younger audiences directive. Ha ha. Only kidding.

More of an eighties man myself. Hardly contemporary either!

Chuba Akpom is swarmed up on and wins a free-kick against the Coventry defence.

Boro end up going backwards with it.

The ball is played back to Zack Steffen in goal, Coventry press. Paddy McNair is chased down and it's a throw for Cov in a good area.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at the CBS Arena

Image source, PA Media

Call me a child of the sixties - but what a joy it is to be sat here in 2023 listening to the Coventry City fans relieve the occasional moments of boredom by belting out the Sounds of the Sixties.

We might not have had any goals, but we have had Twist And Shout by The Beatles, Do Wah Diddy Diddy by Manfred Mann and (I'm Into) Something Good by Herman's Hermits.

The 28,874 present have truly been in full voice. What a play list. Marvellous!

They clearly don't write 'em like them any more.

Viktor Gyokeres and Paddy McNair chase a ball to the byline and it goes behind.

McNair stands his ground, Gyokeres doesn't like it. Has a bark at the Boro defender.

Not been his most productive day, as Boro haven't allowed it to be.

Boro also roll the dice. Isaiah Jones is off and Marcus Forss, primarily a striker but now operating as a winger, is on.

Image source, Rex Features

Confirmation of the change, Jamie Allen on for Josh Eccles.

Coventry twist.

Image source, PA Media

To say there's been no goals, there's been plenty to talk about.

Either that, or I've been waffling aimlessly since about 11:40 BST.

Probably that.

Josh Eccles is down for Coventry. Jamie Allen about to come on...

Steve Ogrizovic
Ex-Coventry City goalkeeper on BBC CWR

This is much better from Coventry.

They're playing in Middlesbrough's half more.

There haven't been any great efforts on goal, but a lot more play in their territory.

Middlesbrough just popping little passes around, lulling Coventry into a false sense of security, before upping the tempo and looking to strike with Chuba Akpom.

The Sky Blues are wise to it. Win it back.

Gustavo Hamer picks it up, hares towards goal and then drags a shot from the edge of the D, wide of the Boro uprights.

Coventry defender Callum Doyle goes on a solo run, strides to the edge of the box, dummies Alex Mowatt, and then hooks a shot high and wide with a yard opened up.

The Manchester City man was promoted with Sunderland last season into the Championship, can he go back-to-back?

Image source, Getty Images

Boro defend a Coventry chance, as Jake Bidwell is released down the left, curls in a cross which Viktor Gyokeres nods down for Matty Godden but Hayden Hackney is back to hoist it away industrially.

Tide has turned a bit. Boro on the back-foot, Sky Blues channelling some drive.

Callum Doyle dilly-dallies on the edge of his own box and Boro pinch it, the ball is played to Riley McGree but Coventry recover to clear.

Paddy McNair then goes for a 50-50 with Viktor Gyokeres and the Northern Ireland defender comes off worse. Stoppage.

Gyokeres is finally finding a way into the contest. Mark Robins taking time out to give his players a little pep-talk and direction, Gustavo Hamer and Kyle McFadzean both receiving some gospel from the gaffer.

Chris Hunter: Yes, I was at the City/Gillingham play-off final, went with my City supporting mate Jim Butler but ended up in the Gills’ end, which was the more fun place to be until really quite close to the end. Main memory was Oasis driving around cheerleading outside the pub after.

Phlegmian: I love the EFL play-offs. A great concept, and as a Gills fan, I've seen my fair share (at Wembley for Man City, down the pub the year after!). Always so much at stake & more fun than the Premier League. Big shout out to the National League play-offs too.

Anyone who saw any of the match yesterday between Notts County and Chesterfield witnessed an absolute classic!

Frustrations abound for Coventry, as Matty Godden goes shoulder to shoulder with Middlesbrough's Darragh Lenihan and concedes a free-kick.

They then get Viktor Gyokeres away down the left, he wins a throw. Drives into the box, gets a shot away but it's blocked.

Sky Blues up and at 'em. Fans responding with a big roar.

Luke McNally has to be alive to a fizzing Paddy McNair corner for Boro, it was drilled flat to the near post.

The follow-up is swung under the crossbar, but up goes Callum Doyle to clear.

Coventry stride forward, looking to get Josh Eccles in but Ryan Giles sweeps back to clear.

Image source, Getty Images

Kyle McFadzean rises for a far-post corner, but Viktor Gyokeres in his eagerness to get involved actually ends up bringing his Coventry team-mate down and Boro smother the loose ball.

The visitors break, Riley McGree weaves his way to the edge of the box, but his skittering low cross is bobbled behind by the Sky Blues.

Liam Kelly curls invitingly to the back post for Coventry, where Viktor Gyokeres is lurking, but his header is blocked.

Jake Bidwell side-foots the cross which is turned behind.

Corner.

Boro clear but Gustavo Hamer swings in a deep ball to the back post for Josh Eccles, who glances it behind but gets a corner.

Cheeky.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at the CBS Arena

After a cagey opening half, Coventry are the team most in need of an second-half improvement - yet it is Boro who have re-started the brighter.

City really need to get Viktor Gyokeres more in the game.

The top scorer has scored just once in the Sky Blues' last five home games - and that was a penalty.

Middlesbrough swing a corner into the Coventry box, Darragh Lenihan rises and glances it across the area but it sails through and the home side clear.

Viktor Gyokeres is raging at the referee having been denied a free-kick after a tug from a Boro player. He needs to watch himself, or the only thing he'll pick up is a booking.

Image source, Rex Features

Brilliant chance for Middlesbrough, and Chuba Akpom is the player to receive it.

However, his late run into the box, and little glancing header can only power the ball wide of Ben Wilson's posts.

Great ball in from Riley McGree, curled into an area, for Akpom to attack.