Middlesbrough vs Coventry LIVE commentary: Michael Carrick and co aim for Wembley while Sky Blues look to continue dream campaign

Middlesbrough take on Coventry in the second leg of their play-off semi-final on Wednesday night, exclusively live on talkSPORT. 

Michael Carrick’s men ground out a 0-0 draw at the CBS Arena at the weekend and now have the home advantage to seal a place at Wembley. 

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Carrick led his side to a third-place finish this season and they are the favourites to secure a place back in the Premier League for the first time in six years. 

But Mark Robins and co are out to prevent that and continue their incredible season so far by heading to the capital for a shot at the big time. 

The Sky Blues were 20th in December but rose up the table to reach the play-offs and they are now two wins away from achieving top-flight status for the first time since 2001. 

Middlesbrough vs Coventry: talkSPORT coverage 

This Championship play-off semi-final second leg will be played on Wednesday, May 17. 

Kick-off at the Riverside Stadium is scheduled for 8pm. 

talkSPORT 2 will have EXCLUSIVE live coverage of the game presented by Dan Windle. 

Commentary will then come from Ian Danter and former Arsenal midfielder Adrian Clarke. 

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

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Middlesbrough vs Coventry: Team news 

Middlesbrough were boosted by the return of Dael Fry and Marcus Forss to the matchday squad in the first leg on Sunday. 

Forss was handed a 20-minute cameo and may break his way into the first team this time around while Fry is expected to remain on the bench. 

Aaron Ramsey and Jonny Howson were both missing last time out and are set to be assessed ahead of the second leg. 

As for Coventry, key man Gustavo Hamer went down with a knee injury at the weekend but was able to carry on for the remainder of the match. 

However, Hamer’s injury is a concern for the Sky Blues with his fitness now a doubt. 

Kasey Palmer, Fabio Tavares and Callum O’Hare will all remain on the sidelines.

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Middlesbrough vs Coventry: What has been said? 

Coventry boss Robins is happy that his side are still in the tie but labelled Middlesbrough the favourites to progress and win the play-offs. 

Speaking after the first leg, he said: “We had particularly a 15 to 20-minute period where we had a lot of it and we pinned them in a little bit, they dropped. 

“It was interesting to see. We will look at it, it’s the third time we’ll play them in just over a week, but we’re in it. That’s the big thing.

“I said to the players we’ve still got a chance. This is how hard you’ve got to work to get to a Wembley final anyway. They’re the favourites now and rightly so – I think they’re favourites to win it anyway.”

Middlesbrough vs Coventry: Match facts 

• Coventry’s Viktor Gyökeres scored more away goals than any other player in the Championship this season (11).
• Chuba Akpom has scored 29 goals in all competitions this season – the last Middlesbrough player to hit 30 in a single campaign was Fabrizio Ravanelli in 1996-97 (31).
• Coventry failed to register a single shot on target in the first leg against Middlesbrough, just the third time this season they’ve done so in all competitions this season (also home and away league games against Burnley).
• Middlesbrough have failed to score in each of their last four EFL play-off matches (D2 L2), since beating Brentford 3-0 in the 2014-15 semi-final second leg.
• Coventry are unbeaten in their last nine away games (W4 D5), conceding just four goals and keeping five clean sheets in that run. They last had a longer run without defeat on the road as a second tier or higher side between January and May 1998 (10 games).
• Middlesbrough have scored in all 15 of their home games in all competitions under Michael Carrick (37 goals in total), last failing to find the net at the Riverside Stadium in a goalless draw with Huddersfield in October.
• Since Middlesbrough moved to the Riverside Stadium in 1995-96, Coventry City are the only team to have played more than five times there without winning a single match in all competitions (D4 L9).
• Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last 13 home games against Coventry City (W9 D4) since a 2-0 defeat at Ayresome Park in February 1993.