Haji Wright delivered a stunning performance, scoring a hat-trick to lead Coventry City to a decisive 3-1 victory over promotion rivals Middlesbrough. The match, held at the Coventry Building Society Arena, saw Wright’s goals propel Coventry to the top of the Championship table, one point ahead of Middlesbrough.
Wright’s opening goal came in the 22nd minute when he deftly converted a pass from Jack Rudoni, directing the ball past Middlesbrough goalkeeper Sol Brynn from eight yards out. Coventry nearly took the lead earlier, as Wright’s header from a Tatsuhiro Sakamoto cross struck the post just two minutes into the match. Middlesbrough responded with a chance of their own when Morgan Whittaker’s shot from outside the penalty area sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
The second half began with Middlesbrough pushing for an equalizer. Whittaker came close to scoring, sending a header onto the roof of the net just one minute into the period. However, Coventry extended their lead in the 55th minute. Wright capitalized on a long kick from goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, curling a first-time shot into the right corner of the goal from the left side of the penalty area.
Middlesbrough had a narrow escape when substitute Jeremy Sarmiento’s shot hit the post with Rushworth beaten. They eventually found the net in the 67th minute when Riley McGree struck a loose ball into the top-right corner from 12 yards out, reducing Coventry’s lead to 2-1.
Just 17 seconds after the restart, Coventry was awarded a penalty when Josh Eccles’ cross struck the arm of Matt Targett in the box. Haji Wright stepped up to take the penalty, confidently slotting the ball into the bottom left corner in the 71st minute, marking his hat-trick and sealing the win for Coventry.
The victory not only boosts Coventry City’s promotion hopes but also highlights Haji Wright’s critical role in their campaign, as he continues to demonstrate his scoring prowess in the Championship. As the season progresses, Coventry will look to build on this momentum, aiming to secure a place in the Premier League.
