Swing back to just over a week ago and Middlesbrough were top of the Championship table, off the back of six straight wins and looking relentless in their march.
Coventry, meanwhile, had dropped off top for the first time in four months. They looked weakened, a lesser side than the one that had taken the second tier by storm in the opening exchanges of the campaign
| Pos. | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coventry | 33 | 19 | 8 | 6 | 32 | 65 |
| 2 | Middlesbrough | 33 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 62 |
| 3 | Millwall | 33 | 16 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 56 |
| 4 | Ipswich | 31 | 15 | 9 | 7 | 20 | 54 |
| 5 | Hull | 32 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 54 |
| 6 | Wrexham | 33 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 51 |
| 7 | Birmingham | 33 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 49 |
| 8 | Derby | 33 | 13 | 9 |
Then, a huge 3-1 win over Boro under the lights at the CBS Arena. They then followed that up with a win at West Brom on Saturday.
The Baggies, honestly, were there for the taking. But considering Coventry had failed to win any of their last seven on the road – it was a statement win.
Later that afternoon, Middlesbrough were held at home by Oxford. Exactly the same result against the same relegation-threatened side that Coventry had suffered a fortnight earlier.
It may just be a three-point lead again, but it feels like the pendulum has swung back towards Frank Lampard’s side.
There aren’t many teams that cruise the league,” the Coventry boss said. “These last two games have given us a feeling that we can continue to be the best version of us.
“From mid-to-late December we have felt that pressure. Hopefully we have come through it with these two wins.
“We know it’s been a thing away from home and we wanted to correct it, and I felt this was a performance to correct it.”
