Coventry City 2 Middlesbrough 2

TWO up at half-time, Boro failed to kill the game off and had to settle for a point at the Ricoh Arena, from where GORDON COX reports.

Gareth Southgate made four changes from the side embarrassed by West Brom as he gave first starts of the season to Brad Jones and Justin Hoyte, a recall to Gary O'Neil and a first ever start to Joe Bennett.

Out went Danny Coyne, Tony McMahon, Jonathan Grounds and Mark Yeates, all dropping to the bench.

There was just one change to the Coventry side beaten at Preston last Saturday with 17-year-old Jordan Clarke replacing Martin Cranie, an former England U19 international team-mate of Matthew Bates, Andrew Taylor and ex-Boro player James Morrison.

Boro had a great chance to take the lead with 52 seconds played as they sprung from defending a free-kick midway inside their own half to breaking through the middle with Marvin Emnes.

The Dutch striker outpaced his markers, but Keiren Westwood produced an excellent save to block a low shot from just outside the penalty area.

In a bright start, Boro continued to press and won a corner on the right that was cleared to Julio Arca, who shot a yard over from 25.

Coventry created a clear cut chance of their own with six minutes played as Clinton Morrison crossed from the right - he ought to have been closed down - and former Bristol City player Michael McIndoe headed over from the edge of the six-yard box.

A low cross from McIndoe a few minutes later caused problems in a lively start to the game, Boro scrambling clear on this occasion.

As the game switched to the other end, towards the stand housing a good Boro following in great heart and voice, O'Neil controlled and sent a dipping volley half a yard over the bar.

Jeremie Aliadiere was next to press, cutting in from the right angle of the penalty area before taking one touch too many and giving Westwood a chance to smother.

It took a fine block on the edge of the penalty area from Sean St Ledger to prevent a low drive from Isaac Osbourne causing problems, but he was caught a minute later as Boro gave the ball away three times in the same move, which ended when Morrison shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Emnes was looking Boro's most potent threat and a low drive from the edge of the area brought a save at the base of Westwood's left-hand post.

The breakthrough came five minutes from half-time as Adam Johnson swung over a right-wing corner that Sean St Ledger rose to meet seven yards out and powerfully headed in off the underside of the bar.

Emnes missed a great opportunity to increase Boro's lead two minutes later but completely mis-hit an attempted low drive from edge of the box with Westwood well off his line.

A slip from St Ledger in the final minute of normal time allowed Morrison a chance to shoot but Jones produced a smart save.

Just over two minutes into injury-time Johnson fed O'Neil on the edge of the City box, a chipped cross was intended for Emnes but scuffed clear and Rhys Williams struck low for goal from 12 yards.

Westwood appeared to get both hands to the strike but couldn't prevent the young Australian from scoring his first senior goal.

Half-time: Coventry City 0 Middlesbrough 2

City manager Chris Coleman, doubtless unimpressed with his team, made two changes during the break.

A left-wing cross from Sammy Clingan had Jones at full stretch to palm clear in the early exchanges, while the same City player was in action at the other end a few minutes later as he cleared a scuffed Williams shot off the line.

Boro's first change came after 52 minutes when Emnes was replaced by Leroy Lita.

The action was radiating to the other end of the play however and Jones smartly saved from McIndoe after a slip from St Ledger, who redeemed himself a couple of minutes later when clearing off the line.

Breaking swiftly, Johnson tore straight through the middle but elected to shoot when Aliadiere was better placed and unmarked to his left.

A third goal would have effectively killed the game at this stage, but while it just remained two there was a small chance City could get back into it.

As if to emphasise the point, no-one picked up Stephen Wright, who headed just over from a right-wing Clingan free-kick.

Boro continued to look the better side, but hadn't killed the game off and with 12 minutes remaining a simple ball played into the Boro penalty area picked out Clinton Morrison, who controlled well on his chest, rolled Hoyte and shot low to Jones's left from the edge of the six-yard box.

There was concern with nine minutes of normal time remaining when Hoyte went down in some distress holding his left ankle. With Boro having used all their subs Hoyte hobbled back on after treatment, but was put into midfield for nuisance value as Williams dropped to right-back.

The closing stages were more nervy than they ought to have been, although City could have been down to 10 men had the letter of the law been applied when last man Elliott Ward fouled Lita.

In the fourth minute of injury-time Boro paid the penalty for failing to take control of a game they ought to have finished off when a low cross from the left went unchecked through the penalty area and Leon Best slid in at the back post to equalise.

It was a totally frustrating and avoidable outcome.

Coventry City: Westwood; Hall (Van Aanholt 46), Clarke, Turner (Ward 77), Wright (Capt), Osbourne (Gunnarsson 46), Clingan, McIndoe, Cork, Morrison, Best. Unused subs: Konstantopoulos (gk); Cranie, Cain, Eastwood.

Middlesbrough: Jones; Hoyte, Wheater (Capt), St Ledger, Bennett (Grounds 63), O'Neil, Williams, Arca, A Johnson (Yeates 73), Emnes (Lita 52), Aliadiere. Unused subs: Coyne (gk); McMahon, Hines, Folan.

Referee: Graham Horwood

Bookings

Coventry City: Ward, 89, foul; Wright, 89, dissent.

Middlesbrough: Bennett, 21, foul; Johnson, 73, diving; Lita, 90+3, foul.

Attendance: 16,771, (1,622 Boro)

Conditions: Warm, bright and still.

Website Boro Man of the Match: Close between Arca, O'Neil and Jones, with Brad Jones just shading it.