Boro won't underestimate latest visitors

Middlesbrough will be going for a sixth successive victory in all competitions when Coventry City visit the Riverside.

Boro are without striker Scott McDonald due to a hamstring injury and are also still missing Merouane Zemmama and Kevin Thomson. Meanwhile, defender Justin Hoyte is currently being monitored because of a thigh problem.

"We've got a very tough game and it will be all the tougher because of their league position," manager Tony Mowbray told Boro's official website. "These games are classic banana skins. Everyone expects us to beat a team who are struggling to get wins. We have to make sure we're mentally and physically ready. They'll be a very disciplined and hard-working team.

"I've watched some of their games and they were very unlucky to lose against Crystal Palace after being 1-0 up," he continued. "I think they'll make it difficult and try to frustrate and get the crowd on the team's back. We have to be patient and wait for the chance to come."

Coventry have experienced a difficult start to their campaign and colllected just a solitary point from their opening four league games.

The Sky Blues are still without Gary McSheffrey (hamstring), Gary Deegan (thigh) and Richard Wood (thigh) and therefore manager Andy Thorn was expected to name an unchanged squad.

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