Championship play-off chasing Coventry City face a final-day test away to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Middlesbrough are already assured of fourth place and their play-off spot, whilst a win would see Coventry qualify for the play-offs and set up a two-legged semi-final against Boro,
Mark Robins’ Blues though can still qualify with a draw but in that scenario would only secure fifth if Millwall fail to win elsewhere.
Team News
Anfernee Dijksteel is suspended for Middlesbrough after he was red carded in their defeat at Rotherham last weekend.
Ryan Giles and Jonny Howson (both unspecified) are unlikely to feature as manager, Michael Carrick looks to ready his squad for the play-offs.
Dael Fry (Achilles/ankle), Marcus Forss, Aaron Ramsey (ankle) and Matt Clarke (back) remain absent.
Coventry could be without striker, Viktor Gyokeres after the Swede suffered a knock in their win against Birmingham City.
Ben Sheaf (calf) is a doubt but is nearing a first-team return, although manager – Mark Robins might opt not to risk him with one eye on a possible play-off semi-final.
When is Kick-Off?
Middlesbrough host Coventry at 3pm BST on Bank Holiday Monday 8 May at the Riverside Stadium, albeit untelevised in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Middlesbrough have won three of their last five meetings against Coventry (W3, L2).
- Coventry are winless in their last ten league visits to Middlesbrough (D3, L7).
- Coventry are looking to do the league double over Middlesbrough for the first time since 1992-93 season.
- Seven of Boro’s last eight league goals at home have been scored by the trio of Hayden Hackeny (2), Cameron Archer (3) and Chuba Akpom (2).
- Mark Robin’s Blues are unbeaten in their last eight away games (W4, D4).
Prediction
Although their eyes have been upon play-off preparations in recent weeks, Middlesbrough have to improve on their lacklustre performance at Rotherham if want some fresh momentum to take into their play-off semi-final.
Carrick though does know that Boro can have a say in their semi-final opposition with victory here, which would put Coventry’s fate out of the Sky Blues’ own hands – but in-turn potentially set up a semi-final against either Millwall, Sunderland or West Brom which could be slightly trickier.
Coventry meanwhile know that a win would set up a two-legged play-off semi-final against Boro with momentum behind them, having lost just once in their last 16 games which included a clinical display against Birmingham City even if fairly wasteful in the second half.
Teesside however has been quite a hoodoo away trip for Coventry but this is their best chance to end that run, especially if the pair were to collide in the play-off semi-final although I do expect Boro to reignite their quality after a pair of narrow defeats.
A draw therefore would be a fair result because Boro would halt their two-match losing streak but Coventry would be assured of a play-off spot.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-1 Coventry
Result: Middlesbrough 1-1 Coventry