Haji Wright hat-trick sinks Middlesbrough and sends Coventry back to top of Championship

“We are top of the league,” sang the Coventry City supporters of returning to the summit of the Championship. Ironically, it was a result that quelled the nagging noise surrounding Frank Lampard and his team. Coventry, pace-setters for the majority of the season, had won just four league games since the end of November. But Haji Wright hit a timely hat-trick as Coventry again traded places with Middlesbrough, whose six-game winning run came to an abrupt halt. Riley McGree pulled a goal back midway through the second half but from the restart Boro conceded a penalty that allowed Wright to claim the match ball. Coventry’s lead may have been shredded to a single point but this felt a significant victory – psychologically as much as anything – having taken just 16 points from the previous available 39. For Kim Hellberg, the Boro head coach who grew up in Sweden idolising Lampard, this was disappointing but not a disaster. When he took charge in November, Boro trailed Coventry by 10 points. On this evidence, Boro look determined to run them close as the pair fight for automatic promotion in the remaining 14 matches. Continue reading...

By Ben Fisher at Coventry Building Society Arena

Premier League promotion 2025-26: Latest Championship table, contenders as Coventry, Boro fight at summit

Red-hot Middlesbrough and Coventry City are jockeying for the EFL Championship crown, the 2025-26 race for Premier League promotion is deep and driven.