Summary

  • Calm Hamer finish sees Coventry beat Boro to reach final

  • Sky Blues will play Luton in Championship play-off final at Wembley on 27 May

  • First leg finished goalless at CBS Arena

  • Boro finished fourth in table, Coventry five points behind in fifth

  1. Thanks for joining uspublished at 22:45 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    Coventry celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    And that concludes our coverage of tonight's Championship play-off semi-final second leg at the Riverside.

    Congratulations again to Coventry City, who'll face Luton Town at Wembley on Saturday, 27 May.

    You can join us again for more play-off action tomorrow evening when Sheffield Wednesday face Peterborough United in League One.

    Until next time, goodnight.

  2. Read our match reportpublished at 22:44 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    My colleague Matt Newsum is at the Riverside Stadium tonight - here's his take on what was a very tense 90 minutes of play-off football...

    Coventry beat Middlesbrough to make play-off final

    Coventry reach the Championship play-off final as a moment of Gustavo Hamer magic sees them past Middlesbrough.

    Read More
  3. Postpublished at 22:42 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    Boro dejectedImage source, Rex Features

    The play-offs.

    Coventry celebrateImage source, PA Media
  4. Will Boro boss Carrick stay at Riverside?published at 22:40 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    Neil Maddison
    Former Middlesbrough midfielder on BBC Tees

    The fans were brilliant tonight.

    Middlesbrough go again next season, as they say in football.

    I'm hoping that Michael Carrick sticks around and he sees that it is a good football club, that there is real potential here.

  5. 'I'm gutted for the fans'published at 22:38 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    Michael CarrickImage source, Rex Features

    Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick on Sky Sports: "We didn't end up creating enough chances. I thought we played some good football over the two legs and it was the final pass.

    "But I can't knock the boys. We've had a fantastic few months... I'm so, so proud of the group. I'm genuinely so proud of the boys and all the staff for what we've done, we've just come up a bit short tonight.

    "I'm gutted for the fans. The support we've had has been unbelievable, but it's a tough one. These experiences are never nice.

    "Congratulations to Coventry for the run they've been on. They're a good team, well organised and Mark and his staff have done an unbelievable job."

  6. 'Like watching Milan of the 90s'published at 22:34 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    Get involved using #bbcefl

    David: I have been watching Coventry City for 45 years and I'm struggling to think of a defensive masterclass better than that. It is like watching the Milan of the 90s. I'm still crying and shaking.

  7. 'The longest game of my career'published at 22:31 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    Coventry celebrateImage source, PA Media

    Coventry manager Mark Robins on Sky Sports: "I think that was the longest game of my career. They are so good, you give them any sort of time and space and they'll hurt you.

    "The supporters have driven us home and it's just been an unbelievable team effort. Six long years of trying to get us to this stage, the next stage... but you've got to enjoy tonight.

    "The players did really well but they're tactically really good. The biggest concern for me was the energy.

    "I thought when we were calm and we played we started to open them up a little bit. I think we could've gone in front earlier on."

  8. Sky Blues 'siege mentality' aids successpublished at 22:28 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    Gary McSheffrey
    Former Coventry winger on BBC CWR

    They are the heartbeat of a city, they have united Coventry as one.

    Mark Robins has really built a siege mentality with this group of players.

    They have had everything go against them and they have used it all as armoury in their favour.

    Hats off to them, they work their socks off.

  9. 'I'm so buzzing'published at 22:26 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    Coventry defender Kyle McFadzean on Sky Sports: "I said at the start of the season we had a real good chance. Obviously we had a bad start but I knew we were a good enough team... I'm so buzzing.

    "They've all been tight, our games against Middlesbrough this season, but we stood up to the task and I thought we did well and defended well. I knew we'd score on the counter-attack."

  10. 'Top-notch' camaraderie a catalyst for Coventrypublished at 22:23 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    Steve Ogrizovic
    Ex-Coventry City goalkeeper on BBC CWR

    Coventry celebrateImage source, PA Media

    Every successful side generally has top-notch team spirit.

    I am not just being wise after the event because they have got to Wembley.

    They get the most out of each other. They all seem to enjoy each other's company. That is immense when you are trying to build something.

  11. get involved

    Get Involved using #bbceflpublished at 22:20 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    Mark Robins celebratesImage source, Getty Images

    Gray: Well done Coventry, hope you make it back to where you once were. Good luck at Wembley.

    John Wells: What a job Mark Robins has done. Will surely go on to bigger and better things one day but the job he’s done at Coventry and with all the issues he’s dealt with has been nothing short but incredible.

    Barry: One shot on target at home when you haven’t scored in the away leg of the play-offs is simply not good enough. Typical Boro to build your hopes up and then hit you hard with disappointment. Well done to Coventry.

  12. Postpublished at 22:16 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    So Coventry City will face Luton Town in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday, 27 May.

    It's worth pointing out that just FIVE years ago they were playing one another in League Two. Now, in 10 days' time, they'll be battling it out for a place in the Premier League.

    We'll have more reaction for you shortly, so don't go anywhere.

  13. 'We deserved the win'published at 22:13 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    Coventry reach Championship play-off final

    Coventry celebrateImage source, PA Media

    Coventry striker Viktor Gyokeres on Sky Sports: "We said before the game it was two really good teams and I think it was going to be down to who worked the hardest. I think we deserved the win.

    "It's unbelievable. But here we are, we're going to enjoy this and then after a few days' rest we're going to focus on the final."

    On facing Luton at Wembley: "They're a good team and it's going to be a tough final but we believe in ourselves and we're looking forward to it."

  14. Coventry's five-man midfield made a differencepublished at 22:10 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    Gary McSheffrey
    Former Coventry winger on BBC CWR

    Liam Kelly was brilliant, he covered every blade of grass.

    Everyone was going a little bit "gung-ho" in the last minutes, but he was a real leader out there.

  15. 'We want to complete it'published at 22:08 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    Coventry reach Championship play-off final

    Coventry celebrateImage source, PA Media

    Coventry midfielder Liam Kelly on Sky Sports: "What it means to this football club, for the past six seasons now we've been climbing up the leagues. We had to dig really, really deep tonight but it's the play-offs, that's what you've got to do.

    "We want to go and win the final now. We want to complete it, there's no point just turning up.

    "It's going to be some day."

  16. Postpublished at 22:06 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    As the jubilant scenes continue, we've got some reaction from a couple of Coventry's Wembley-bound players coming right up...

  17. Agonising for Akpom after stellar seasonpublished at 22:03 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    Rob Law
    BBC Radio Tees

    Boro dejectedImage source, Rex Features

    Almost everybody - when that whistle went from referee David Coote - just falling down on to the turf.

    I'm just looking now at Middlesbrough's Chuba Akpom who has his red shirt over his face.

    He is absolutely broken, he is in pieces, the man who has had the season of his life.

  18. 'Complete performance' from Coventrypublished at 22:01 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    Steve Ogrizovic
    Ex-Coventry City goalkeeper on BBC CWR

    Coventry celebrateImage source, PA Media

    That is the most complete performance under intense pressure.

    The Coventry gameplan from the start was brilliant.

    They pressed, they were brave, they were higher up the pitch.

    They have defended manfully. It is going to be a great occasion at Wembley.

  19. Coventry reach Championship play-off finalpublished at 22:00 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    Some Middlesbrough players are in tears. Coventry's players celebrate with their fans.

  20. FULL-TIMEpublished at 90+9 mins
    Breaking

    Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)

    Coventry into play-off finalImage source, .

    It's cleared again and there's the full-time whistle! Coventry are on their way to Wembley!