Our prediction for this Championship match:
Middlesbrough
Match Time & Date:
01/01/2024
16:00
Prediction: 1-1
Coventry
Middlesbrough will look to build on a 2-1 win over Huddersfield Town when they take on Coventry City in the first game of the year. The Boro quickly bounced back from a 1-0 loss to Rotherham United, with the team regaining a much-needed confidence, but they need to keep on making progress if they are to make it to the playoffs. Joshua Coburn is widely expected to return to the starting XI after scoring as a substitute in the last league match, while all Dieng, Latte Lah, Hackney, Mcnair, Forss, Smith, Lenihan, and O’Brien remain in the recovery room.
The Sky Blues, on the other hand, are undefeated in the previous six league matches. Coventry and Middlesbrough seem to be evenly matched at the moment and we predict that the two sides are going to share the spoils in the Championship round 26. It has to be noted that under 2.5 goals have been netted in six of the previous seven meetings between the two sides.
Highlighted Player (Paddy McNair):
Following in the footsteps of his compatriot Jonny Evans, Paddy McNair joined the Manchester United academy in 2011 and he was surprisingly handed first team debut by Louis van Gaal at the start of the 2014/2015 season.
Despite his fragile age, the talented central defender has been putting in some very mature performances ever since, and everything suggests he could go on to become an important player at Old Trafford in years to come. After representing a number of youth sides, McNair made his first appearance for the Northern Ireland senior national team in a March 2015 friendly vs Scotland, before making another three outings as his side secured their place at the Euro 2016 finals.
Northern Ireland coach Michael O’Neill surprisingly played McNair in holding midfield in the March 2016 friendly vs Wales. After the youngster impressed in the middle of the park, O’Neill went on to suggest that the Manchester United starlet may be used in midfield rather than defence in years to come in the national team.
Highlighted Team (Coventry):
Nicknamed the Sky Blues, Coventry City are an English football club that compete in the League One. Coventry City, who were founded on August 13, 1883 as Singers FC, wear sky blue kit when playing on home soil, whilst their away colour is white.
Aston Villa and Leicester City are considered the club’s main rivals, but they have rivalry with fellow West Midlands clubs Wallsall and Burton Albion as well. Coventry City have yet to win the Premier League trophy, but they did well to go all the way in the FA Cup in the 1986/1987 season, with the team beat Charlton Athletic in the two-legged final. They share stadium with Birmingham City, with both clubs playing their home games at St. Andrew’s Stadium.
Built in December, 1906, St. Andrew’s Stadium can hold up to 29,409 spectators. Dion Dublin is one of the most famous Coventry City players, with the legendary centre-forward scoring 61 goals in 145 appearances for the club in the league.
Barcelona
Las Palmas 
Crystal Palace
Newcastle 
Borussia Dortmund 
Bayern Munich 
West Ham
Arsenal
Chelsea 
Aston Villa 
Manchester United 
Everton
