The surprise Middlesbrough curse Kim Hellberg can break v Coventry City | OneFootball

Middlesbrough have never beaten Coventry City at the CBS Arena, which is something Kim Hellberg can change on Monday.

Kim Hellberg can already create a piece of Middlesbrough history when his side travel to Coventry City for a hotly-anticipated Championship clash on Monday night.

Hellberg replaced Rob Edwards as Boro boss back in November, and has steered the Teesside outfit to the top of the second-tier table, leapfrogging Monday's opponents in the process.

Middlesbrough have enjoyed a heavily impressive run of six consecutive Championship victories, enabling them to lead the title race with 15 league fixtures remaining.

In contrast, Coventry previously led the way in the second tier, but have slipped behind Hellberg's men after enduring a three-game winless streak, which has included losses against both Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers.

Kim Hellberg can ensure Middlesbrough overturn woeful CBS Arena record

Boro will open up a daunting gap of five points on the Sky Blues if they get the better of Frank Lampard's men in the West Midlands on Monday.

Should Coventry endure yet another defeat, it will also hand Ipswich Town, Hull City, and Millwall a serious chance to gain ground on them and snatch the second automatic promotion spot.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough are yet to beat the Sky Blues at the CBS Arena since the 32,609 capacity venue opened back in 2005, which is a poor record that Hellberg will be desperate to see his club overturn.

During their last trip to Coventry, Boro suffered a 2-0 defeat on 3 May 2025, courtesy of Jack Rudoni's brace.

Lampard's men successfully landed a Championship play-off spot last season, which is a feat that Middlesbrough failed to achieve, instead finishing 10th in Michael Carrick's last season at the Riverside Stadium.

This time around, though, the North East outfit can strengthen their grip on the second-tier title at the West Midlands side's expense by earning a maiden victory at the CBS Arena.

Middlesbrough should be confident of breaking poor Coventry City away record

Middlesbrough's woeful record at the CBS Arena arguably puts more weight on Hellberg's shoulders as he vies to guide his team to a seventh straight win in the second tier.

However, it is Coventry who are under real pressure, as they have already surrendered their previous 10-point lead over Boro in the title race, and now have to ensure that the likes of Ipswich, Millwall, and Hull don't pip them to automatic promotion.

Boro have proven themselves as the best team in the Championship since Hellberg took the managerial reins from Edwards, while a seventh consecutive victory would paint a remarkable display of consistency in an unrelenting second-tier season.

On the other hand, Coventry have suffered defeats more often than they have enjoyed victories since the turn of the year, and were held to a 0-0 draw by relegation-threatened Oxford United last time out.

The West Midlands side have largely struggled defensively in recent weeks, despite their clean sheet against Oxford, while Boro boast a clinical attack.