Debutant Alex Nimely scored one goal and made two as rock-bottom Coventry inflicted a third straight league defeat on nine-man Middlesbrough.

Nimely, who spent the first half of the season on loan with Boro, set up Gary McSheffrey's 15-yard opener.

Boro had Kevin Thomson sent off for a second yellow card before Nimely's header made it 2-0 and Matthew Bates put through his own net for the third.

Scott McDonald's header gave Boro hope but Julio Arca saw red for a lunge.

The visitors can have no complaints about Arca's dismissal after the midfielder went in two-footed on Sammy Clingan.

But the first-half dismissal of Thomson was a little harsh on the visitors and undoubtedly changed the course of the game, even though the hosts were already leading courtesy of McSheffrey's finish from inside the box.

Thomson was harshly booked for bringing down Cyrus Christie and then saw red for getting a second caution for a studs-up challenge on McSheffrey.

Nimely made the one-man advantage count after the break, heading Coventry's second.

And Bates then scored at the wrong end on 64 minutes after a clever cross from substitute David Bell to seemingly end Boro's chances.

Boro responded instantly when a Marvin Emnes cross was nodded in by McDonald.

But Coventry held out with relative ease and Boro's misery was complete when Arca earned their second red card.

Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (5)

Coventry

  • 01 Murphy
  • 02 Keogh
  • 05 Hreidarsson Booked
  • 15 Cranie
  • 31 Christie
  • 04 Clingan
  • 12 Deegan Booked (Bell - 46' )
  • 32 Thomas
  • 11 McSheffrey
  • 18 Nimely
  • 22 Platt (Eastwood - 79' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Dunn
  • 24 Wood
  • 07 Bell
  • 08 Baker
  • 10 Eastwood

Middlesbrough

  • 21 Coyne
  • 02 Hoyte (McMahon - 70' )
  • 03 Bennett (McManus - 69' )
  • 04 Bates
  • 14 Williams Booked (Smallwood - 70' )
  • 08 Thomson Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 17 Robson Booked
  • 18 Arca Dismissed
  • 38 Haroun
  • 07 McDonald
  • 09 Emnes

Substitutes

  • 31 Ripley
  • 06 McManus
  • 29 McMahon
  • 22 Martin
  • 33 Smallwood
Ref: Sutton
Att: 14,112

Match Stats

Shots

12 12

On target

8 8

Corners

9 9

Fouls

13 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:56 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +4:25

Freddy Eastwood produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the crossbar.

90:00 +3:31

The ball is swung over by Scott McDonald.

90:00 +2:52

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Scott McDonald by Gary McSheffrey. Faris Haroun restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +1:38 Dismissal

Dismissal Red card for Julio Arca.

90:00 +1:23

Foul by Julio Arca on Sammy Clingan, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Joe Murphy.

89:43

Foul by Martin Cranie on Marvin Emnes, free kick awarded. Marvin Emnes takes the free kick.

89:26

Cyrus Christie delivers the ball, save by Danny Coyne.

89:03

Floated corner taken from the left by-line by Sammy Clingan.

88:35

David Bell takes a shot. Blocked by Tony McMahon.

88:09

Cyrus Christie takes a shot. Save made by Danny Coyne.

87:06

Corner taken by Sammy Clingan played to the near post, clearance made by Richard Smallwood.

86:29

Alex Nimely takes a shot. Save made by Danny Coyne.

84:55

Unfair challenge on Alex Nimely by Stephen McManus results in a free kick. Hermann Hreidarsson takes the direct free kick.

84:04

Cyrus Christie sends in a cross, save by Danny Coyne.

83:29

Corner taken short by Sammy Clingan.

82:46

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Freddy Eastwood by Tony McMahon. Hermann Hreidarsson takes the direct free kick.

82:09

Barry Robson produces a cross.

82:00

A cross is delivered by Barry Robson.

81:44

Centre by Tony McMahon, Cyrus Christie makes a clearance.

80:52

Floated corner taken from the right by-line by Sammy Clingan, Matthew Bates manages to make a clearance.

79:43

The assistant referee signals for offside against Martin Cranie. Direct free kick taken by Danny Coyne.

78:59 Substitution

Substitution Clive Platt goes off and Freddy Eastwood comes on.

78:11

Centre by Cyrus Christie.

77:32

The ball is swung over by Cyrus Christie, Tony McMahon manages to make a clearance.

76:04

The ball is crossed by Tony McMahon.

73:48 Booking

Booking Hermann Hreidarsson goes into the book.

73:31

Hermann Hreidarsson concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Smallwood. Tony McMahon restarts play with the free kick.

72:50

Gary McSheffrey takes a shot. Save made by Joe Murphy.

72:15

Gary McSheffrey challenges Tony McMahon unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tony McMahon takes the direct free kick.

71:24

Shot from just outside the box by Richard Smallwood misses to the left of the goal.

71:04

Unfair challenge on Richard Smallwood by Richard Keogh results in a free kick. Richard Smallwood takes the free kick.

69:14 Substitution

Substitution Richard Smallwood joins the action as a substitute, replacing Rhys Williams.

69:14 Substitution

Substitution Tony McMahon comes on in place of Justin Hoyte.

68:45 Substitution

Substitution Stephen McManus replaces Joe Bennett.

68:30

The ball is crossed by Gary McSheffrey, Matthew Bates makes a clearance.

68:06

The ball is crossed by Gary McSheffrey, blocked by Matthew Bates.

67:49

Scott McDonald sends in a cross, save by Joe Murphy.

66:45

The ball is swung over by Scott McDonald.

66:15

Scott McDonald takes a shot. Save made by Joe Murphy.

65:12

Assist by Marvin Emnes.

65:12 Goal scored

Goal - Scott McDonald - Coventry 3 - 1 Middlesbro Scott McDonald grabs a headed goal from close range. Coventry 3-1 Middlesbrough.

65:04

Marvin Emnes crosses the ball,

63:55

Shot from just outside the area by Justin Hoyte misses to the left of the target.

63:22 Goal scored

Goal - Matthew Bates - Coventry 3 - 0 Middlesbro An unfortunate own goal is conceded by Matthew Bates. Coventry 3-0 Middlesbrough.

60:58

The ball is sent over by Cyrus Christie, clearance made by Matthew Bates.

59:47

Floated corner taken from the left by-line by Sammy Clingan.

59:35

The ball is sent over by David Bell, clearance by Justin Hoyte.

58:09 Booking

Booking The referee books Barry Robson for unsporting behaviour.

57:58

Foul by Barry Robson on David Bell, free kick awarded. Richard Keogh restarts play with the free kick.

57:46

The ball is crossed by Justin Hoyte, clearance made by Conor Thomas.

56:40 Goal scored

Goal - Alex Nimely - Coventry 2 - 0 Middlesbro Alex Nimely finds the net with a headed goal from inside the area. Coventry 2-0 Middlesbrough.

55:42

Free kick crossed left-footed by Gary McSheffrey, clearance made by Matthew Bates.

55:42 Booking

Booking Rhys Williams receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

55:30

Rhys Williams gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gary McSheffrey.

54:32

Foul by Clive Platt on Faris Haroun, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Justin Hoyte.

53:45

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Faris Haroun by Sammy Clingan. Direct free kick taken by Barry Robson.

53:17

Corner taken right-footed by Sammy Clingan from the right by-line, Matthew Bates manages to make a clearance.

52:53

David Bell takes a shot. Rhys Williams gets a block in.

49:44

Centre by David Bell, Rhys Williams manages to make a clearance.

48:56

Barry Robson produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

48:39

Scott McDonald fouled by Martin Cranie, the ref awards a free kick. Barry Robson takes the direct free kick.

48:02

Effort from deep inside the area by David Bell misses to the right of the goal.

47:19

Alex Nimely takes a shot. Blocked by Rhys Williams.

46:33

Gary McSheffrey produces a cross.

45:52

Corner taken by Sammy Clingan from the right by-line.

45:40

The ball is swung over by Alex Nimely, Rhys Williams gets a block in.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Gary Deegan goes off and David Bell comes on.

45:00 +2:04 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +0:30

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Barry Robson from the left by-line.

45:00 +0:10

Joe Bennett takes a shot. Joe Murphy makes a save.

44:35

Corner taken left-footed by Barry Robson from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Sammy Clingan.

44:23

The ball is crossed by Joe Bennett, blocked by Richard Keogh.

43:33

Hermann Hreidarsson sends in a cross, save by Danny Coyne.

42:13

Direct free kick taken by Julio Arca.

42:13 Booking

Booking Gary Deegan is cautioned.

41:53

Julio Arca fouled by Gary Deegan, the ref awards a free kick.

40:34

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary McSheffrey on Scott McDonald. Rhys Williams restarts play with the free kick.

38:31 Dismissal

Dismissal Kevin Thomson sent off.

38:12

Unfair challenge on Gary McSheffrey by Kevin Thomson results in a free kick. Martin Cranie takes the direct free kick.

37:51

A cross is delivered by Justin Hoyte, clearance made by Richard Keogh.

37:08

Foul by Gary McSheffrey on Justin Hoyte, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Kevin Thomson.

35:39

Alex Nimely provided the assist for the goal.

35:39 Goal scored

Goal - Gary McSheffrey - Coventry 1 - 0 Middlesbro Gary McSheffrey grabs a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Coventry 1-0 Middlesbrough.

34:30

Rhys Williams fouled by Alex Nimely, the ref awards a free kick. Danny Coyne takes the free kick.

33:21

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Conor Thomas by Julio Arca. Sammy Clingan crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing.

29:39

Outswinging corner taken by Barry Robson.

28:36 Booking

Booking Kevin Thomson is given a yellow card.

28:10

Cyrus Christie fouled by Kevin Thomson, the ref awards a free kick. Sammy Clingan restarts play with the free kick.

26:38

Barry Robson produces a cross.

25:06

Julio Arca produces a cross, blocked by Gary Deegan.

24:27

Barry Robson decides to take a short corner.

24:02

Barry Robson takes the inswinging corner, Sammy Clingan manages to make a clearance.

23:42

Joe Bennett takes a shot. Joe Murphy makes a save.

22:25

Centre by Scott McDonald, Martin Cranie makes a clearance.

22:05

Richard Keogh crosses the ball, Matthew Bates makes a clearance.

20:32

The ball is sent over by Julio Arca.

19:15

Floated corner taken from the right by-line by Sammy Clingan.

18:59

A cross is delivered by Gary McSheffrey, Matthew Bates manages to make a clearance.

16:55

Inswinging corner taken by Barry Robson from the right by-line played to the near post, Sammy Clingan makes a clearance.

16:42

Rhys Williams delivers the ball, Conor Thomas manages to make a clearance.

16:06

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Barry Robson.

15:54

Faris Haroun sends in a cross, blocked by Richard Keogh.

13:42

Gary McSheffrey fouled by Faris Haroun, the ref awards a free kick. Shot comes in from Sammy Clingan from the free kick, comfortable save by Danny Coyne.

12:33

Barry Robson takes the outswinging corner, Hermann Hreidarsson makes a clearance.

11:40

Corner taken by Sammy Clingan.

11:31

Alex Nimely delivers the ball, blocked by Matthew Bates.

10:22

Gary McSheffrey has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

9:20

A cross is delivered by Cyrus Christie, Danny Coyne makes a save.

8:18

Scott McDonald takes a shot. Joe Murphy makes a fantastic save.

7:28

Unfair challenge on Barry Robson by Sammy Clingan results in a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Barry Robson from left wing, clearance by Richard Keogh.

6:11

Effort on goal by Julio Arca from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

4:56

Corner from the left by-line taken by Barry Robson, clearance by Clive Platt.

4:31

Marvin Emnes takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Keogh.

3:53

Scott McDonald takes a shot. Blocked by Martin Cranie.

1:01

Scott McDonald has an effort at goal. Joe Murphy makes a save.

0:52

The ball is crossed by Joe Bennett.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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