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. Postpublished at 82 mins

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

    And Coventry probably look more likely to score the next goal on the break.

    Matty Godden, just on as a substitute, sees a shot blocked from inside the box.

    Middlesbrough are soon on the attack once more, however...

  2. Postpublished at 80 mins

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

    Boro fansImage source, PA Media

    Time is not Middlesbrough's friend here. It continues to rush along for those in red, while the clock will feel like it's barely moving if you're a Coventry fan.

    Ten minutes to go. The Sky Blues edge ever closer to the Championship play-off final.

  3. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 79 mins

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

    Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Jamie Allen are off for Coventry, with Fankaty Dabo and Matty Godden on.

  4. YELLOW CARDpublished at 77 mins

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

    Viktor Gyokeres is booked for kicking the ball away after giving away a free-kick.

    Eight players booked in the match, five of them in the Coventry team.

  5. Postpublished at 75 mins

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

    Boro v CoventryImage source, Rex Features

    Middlesbrough are running out of time here. They've got 15 minutes to find a goal and, so far, they've not really looked like getting one.

    It only takes a moment, though...

  6. Postpublished at 74 mins

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

    Coventry half clear the first ball into the box and it falls to Riley McGree, who volleys towards goal, but again there's a visiting defender in the way.

  7. YELLOW CARDpublished at 73 mins

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

    Middlesbrough are up claiming a handball in the area against Liam Kelly, but the referee's not interested.

    Moments later, however, Luke McNally makes a foul on the edge of the Sky Blues box and gets booked.

    It's in a crossing position...

  8. get involved

    Get Involved using #bbceflpublished at 21:31 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

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

    Ben Smith: Whatever happens I'm proud to be a Coventry fan. After so many awful years we finally have reason to be optimistic. Mark Robins is nothing short of a god.

    David Ljunggren: If the play-off final is between Coventry and Luton, then you have to imagine the winner will be coming right back down again next season.

    Let's give them chance to actually go up first, David...

  9. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 70 mins

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

    So close!

    Gustavo Hamer whips his free-kick over the wall but he just can't quite find the dip required and it rattles against the crossbar.

    Goodness me, that could've been the moment that all but sent Coventry to Wembley.

  10. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 69 mins

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

    Before the set-piece is delivered, Josh Eccles comes on for Ben Sheaf.

  11. YELLOW CARDpublished at 68 mins

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

    Boro v CoventryImage source, PA Media

    There's some pretty glum faces in the home end now.

    And that's not ideal either, as Darragh Lenihan brings Viktor Gyokeres down just outside the box and Coventry have a free-kick in a dangerous position.

    Boro just haven't got going since the break.

  12. SUBSTITUTIONSpublished at 66 mins

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

    Now Michael Carrick's seen enough - it's a treble change for Middlesbrough!

    Alex Mowatt, Marcus Forss and Tommy Smith are hooked, with Daniel Barlaser, Isaiah Jones and Anfernee Dijksteel on.

  13. Carrick calls for Riverside responsepublished at 21:26 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

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

    Rob Law
    BBC Radio Tees

    Somebody has put a pin in the atmosphere.

    Ryan Giles was absolutely beating himself up.

    Boro boss Michael Carrick said to him when he got back in position: "Forget about it, get your head in the game, let's go again."

    Boro players dejectedImage source, PA Media
  14. Postpublished at 64 mins

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

    But now here comes Viktor Gyokeres on the break, streaking clear but then seeing his low shot blocked.

    Moments later the Coventry forward wins the ball back once more and tries to work a further shooting opportunity but Boro get bodies back to him.

    We've got a game on our hands at last.

  15. Postpublished at 62 mins

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

    Coventry clear their lines but Middlesbrough come forward again through Ryan Giles, whose cross is hacked away.

    This could well be the pattern this game now follows.

  16. YELLOW CARDpublished at 61 mins

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

    But now they've got a chance to create something in response. Kyle McFadzean is booked for a foul and Boro have a chance to put the ball in the box...

  17. Postpublished at 60 mins

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

    Middlesbrough are shell-shocked. That's Coventry's first shot on target in the entire tie.

  18. Coventry with a finish for the cameraspublished at 21:19 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

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

    Steve Ogrizovic
    Ex-Coventry City goalkeeper on BBC CWR

    What a finish that was by the way!

    Coventry pressed, they forced a turnover from Middlesbrough.

    You think the chance is gone but Gyokeres beats the keeper, cuts back, cool as you like.

    Hamer takes over and fires it into the top corner.

  19. 'Absolute bedlam'published at 21:18 British Summer Time 17 May 2023

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

    Matt Newsum
    BBC Sport at the Riverside Stadium

    Coventry celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    Absolute bedlam in the Coventry section. There's pyro smoke, a mass of limbs bobbling about and scarves being swirled with utter delight.

    They've been having a sing-song for the last 10 minutes and now are roaring.

    Credit to the Boro fans, as soon as the ball had been picked out of the net they roared as one, like a wounded animal.

    They've not given up on their side in the slightest.

  20. goal

    GOAL - Middlesbrough 0-1 Coventry (Agg: 0-1)published at 57 mins

    Gustavo Hamer

    Coventry scoreImage source, PA Media

    And there it is!

    The ball's clipped over the top and Viktor Gyokeres gets in behind the Middlesbrough backline, also managing to guide it away from the onrushing Zach Steffen.

    The Coventry forward loses his momentum slightly, however, and with Boro defenders getting back to him allows Gustavo Hamer to take over.

    In truth, it looks like the chance may have passed, but Hamer moves the ball on to his right foot and curls it into the corner. Superb composure.