Coventry win showdown with promotion rivals Middlesbrough

Liam Kitching and Ellis Simms both score twice as Sky Blues go 10 points clear at the top

LONDON:

Championship leaders Coventry bolstered their bid to reach the Premier League with a dramatic 4-2 win against promotion rivals Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

Frank Lampard's side struck twice in the opening 15 minutes through Ellis Simms' powerful finish and a Liam Kitching header at the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough responded through Morgan Whittaker before the break and equalised soon after the restart with a Bobby Thomas own goal.

But Kitching and Simms both netted again in the final five minutes to strengthen Coventry's promotion prospects.

Middlesbrough, who dropped to third place, introduced new boss Kim Hellberg before kick-off following his appointment on Monday to replace Rob Edwards after his move to Wolves.

Caretaker Adi Viveash was in charge for the last time, with former Hammarby manager Hellberg's first game coming against Derby on Saturday.

Coventry, who last played in the Premier League in 2000-01, are 10 points clear of second-placed Stoke, who won 3-0 at home to Charlton.

Derby ruined Vitor Matos' first game in charge of Swansea with a 2-1 victory at the Liberty Stadium.

Joe Ward and Lars-Jorgen Salvesen scored either side of the interval as Derby climbed to seventh place with a sixth win from seven games.

Former Hull forwards Jaden Philogene and Chuba Akpom returned to haunt their former club as Ipswich moved up to fourth place with a 2-0 win at the MKM Stadium, while Watford drew 1-1 with Preston at Vicarage Road.

Southampton crushed Leicester 3-0 at St Mary's in a clash between two clubs relegated from the top-flight last season.

Norwich's dismal run of eight successive home defeats came to an end but they still finished frustrated Oxford's stoppage-time equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw.