Coventry City reclaimed top spot in the Championship with a 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough at the CBS Arena, as Haji Wright struck a superb hat-trick to settle a high-stakes contest. The forward missed a glorious early chance when he headed against the post, but he recovered emphatically to score all three of Coventry's goals on a night when Frank Lampard's side had to withstand the challenge of an in-form Boro side.
Coventry, who had been knocked off top spot last Monday after spending the previous four months at the summit, responded in style to see off a Middlesbrough team that arrived on a six-game winning run under Kim Hellberg. Wright scored in the first half from a Jack Rudoni cross, added a second early in the second period from a long Carl Rushworth punt, and then completed his treble from the penalty spot just seconds after Riley McGree had given Boro hope. The result moves the Sky Blues a point clear of their promotion rivals, six points ahead of Millwall in third and eight in front of Ipswich in fourth, although Ipswich have two games in hand.
Early Miss Sets The Stage For A Clinical Response
The night did not initially look as though it would belong to Wright. Inside the opening two minutes he rose to meet a cross and planted a header against the post, passing up a chance that seemed easier to score than miss. It was a let-off for Middlesbrough and a moment that could have dented the striker's confidence, particularly in a game of such significance at the top of the table.