MIDDLESBROUGH boss Kim Hellberg believes his team can stay in the race for the Championship title until the final day – despite their defeat at the hands of chief rivals Coventry City.

Middlesbrough had won six games in a row going into the game at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Monday, but a 3-1 defeat dropped Hellberg’s side back down to second.

Haji Wright’s hat-trick did the damage, setting City on their way after 21 minutes, having earlier struck a post.

The USA forward doubled the advantage 10 minutes after the break – only for Riley McGree to halve the deficit – before he completed his treble from the penalty spot after Matt Targett handled inside the area to seal the points.

Despite the setback – it was Coventry’s first win in four games – Hellberg felt there was little to choose between the two teams and believes there is a long way to go in the title race.

“I know if our performances are good enough we will be in a good position in the table at the end of the season,” said Hellberg. “You look at that game and we had 17 shots in the game.

“They are a good team, good players, squad and coach. It was a game of very small margins. It’ll be a race till the last day, so we just need to enjoy it.”

Hellberg’s only criticism of his team’s performance was that they played into their hosts’ hands at times, adding: “They were better than us in the first half – second half we were brilliant, take away the two situations where they scored. I’m disappointed we played too much into their hands.

“We created lots of opportunities. They score both of them for not doing too much. They were awful goals to concede.”