EFL Championship Play-Offs 2022-23: Middlesbrough vs Coventry City: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

With Premier League promotions on the line and Wembley finals in the eyesight

If the Premier League title race and top–4 is keeping you glued, don’t sleep on this final lap to Wembley where four Championship teams are involved in the Semi-Final and 02nd leg coming up within 03 days. With Burnley clinching the direct promotion by winning Championship, Sunderland has taken the lead against Lutton Town winning 2-1 but Coventry held their counterpart on a 0-0 draw.

Coventry claimed a final-day point to clinch a Sky Bet Championship play-off place after earning a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough – whom they are playing in the two-legged semi-final. The Sky Blues, extended their unbeaten run to eight games as they bid to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2001. Coventry City has only featured in the Football League play-offs on one previous occasion, winning the 2017-18 League Two play-offs via eliminating Notts County in the semi-final and Exeter City in the final at Wembley.

Middlesbrough scored 84 league goals this season, their most in a season since 1966-67 (87 in the third tier). 65 of those goals have been scored since Michael Carrick’s first game in October, eight more than any other side has scored in the Championship since then. However, there would be a bit of tension in the campaign for Boro as they head into the playoffs without a win in their past four games, having lost at both Luton and Rotherham before the draw in both matches with Coventry.

This is Middlesbrough’s fifth Football League play-off campaign, with all of their previous four coming at this level. After winning promotion in their first in 1987-88, they haven’t won promotion via this method on any of the other three occasions, in 1990-91, 2014-15, and 2017-18.

Kick-off

Wednesday, 17-05-2023, 03:00 pm (ET)

Thursday, 18-05-2023, 12:30 am (IST)

Stadium: Riverside Stadium

Middlesbrough Form (In All Competitions): D- D- L- L- W

Coventry City Form (In All Competitions): D- D- W- W- D

Player to watch

Middlesbrough: Cameron Archer

Since his first start for Middlesbrough in January, no player has been involved in more Championship goals than Cameron Archer (17 – 11 goals and 6 assists – level with Viktor Gyökeres). Archer’s 11 goals have come from just 16 shots on target, scoring with 69% of his on-target attempts for the club. He has been the main reason for firing Carrick’s team into the race to promotion by providing important breakthrough for the teams.

Coventry City: Viktor Gyökeres

He was involved in more goals than any other Championship player this season (21 goals, 10 assists). He also ranks in the top five for shots attempted (137, 2nd), shots on target (58, 2nd), chances created (85, 5th), and touches in the opposition box (350, 1st). His 350 touches in the opposition box are the second-most on record (since 2013-14) by a player in a regular Championship season, behind only Callum Wilson in 2014-15 (385).

Match Facts for Middlesbrough vs Coventry City

• The home team has won just one of the last 16 meetings between Coventry and Middlesbrough in all competitions, a 2-1 win for Middlesbrough in March 2021 when they were managed by Neil Warnock.
• The team finishing fourth in the Championship has won promotion via the play-offs in four of the last nine seasons, including two of the last three (Fulham in 2019-20, Nottingham Forest in 2021-22).
• In the last 05 matches played between both teams, Coventry won 02 with Boro winning 01 (all the wins coming at home for both the teams and with a clean sheet) and drawing 02 matches both coming in their recent two encounters.   

Injury and Team News for Middlesbrough vs Coventry City

No sidelined players or injuries were reported for the teams.

Head to Head stats

Matches – 20

Middlesbrough– 08

Coventry City – 05

Draws – 07

Predicted Lineups for Middlesbrough vs Coventry City

Middlesbrough Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Zackary Steffen, Tommy Smith, Paddy McNair, Darragh Lenihan, Ryan Giles, Hayden Hackney, Alex Mowatt, Isaiah Jones, Chuba Akpom, Riley McGree, Cameron Archer

Coventry City Predicted Lineup (3-5-2)

Ben Wilson, Luke McNally, Kyle McFadzean, Callum Doyle, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Josh Eccles, Liam Kelly, Gustavo Hamer, Jake Bidwell, Viktor Gyokeres, Matt Godden

Match Prediction for Middlesbrough vs Coventry City

In the previous match, Coventry by contrast could not conjure a single effort on target in the opening 90 minutes, their top player Gyokeres starved of service in the front. Coventry struggled to create clear chances but remain in the tie. The talented Gustavo Hamer went on a solo dribble down the middle, raising the crowd, and losing the ball triggered an intense press.

Carrick’s defenders calmly played their way out of trouble. Coming into the home match with the confidence of shutting the opposition players with the defense it seems Boro might head to the Finals if they manage to keep on their nerves.

Prediction: Middlesbrough 1 – 1 Coventry City

Middlesbrough winning on penalties.

Telecast

India –    Fancode

USA – ESPN+

United Kingdom - Sky Sport

Nigeria- Supersport