Nimely’s timely arrival sinks Boro as Mowbray defends his decision

BORO chief Tony Mowbray revealed he had reached a gentleman’s agreement with opposite number Andy Thorn not to play Lukas Jutkiewicz, whom he had signed from Coventry last week, after a third successive defeat.

The Boro chief said: “You live and die by those decisions. Jutkiewicz is with us for four-and-a-half years not one week. I had a conversation with Andy 10 days ago when the deal was done.

Boro had two men sent off against the bottom club and Mowbray added: “It was hard to judge what the referee was going to do. He let some really heavy stuff go for 15 minutes then all of a sudden he decided to give those two yellow cards.

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“We gave the ball away in some bad areas to be honest but let’s give them credit, rather than me being critical of my team. They are fighting for their lives.”

Manchester City loanee Alex Nimely helped provide some cheer for Thorn’s team, scoring one and helping set up the others.

Mowbray’s side had the best early chances but when Nimely and Clive Platt combined to set up Gary McSheffrey in the 36th minute, he gave Coventry the lead.

Kevin Thomson saw red after he picked up a second booking in 10 minutes just before half-time and all the momentum was with the home side in the second half.

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In the 57th minute, Nimely headed back over a group of players from 12 yards and it looped over the line with Rhys Williams trying to clear.

Then Nimely and David Bell carved a chance for Platt but he did not connect and the ball ran through to Matthew Bates, who turned into his own net.

Scott McDonald made it 3-1 in the 66th minute before Julio Arca was sent off in stoppage time after a late tackle on Sammy Clingan.

Coventry City: Murphy, Christie, Keogh, Cranie, Hreidarsson, Clingan, Thomas, Deegan (Bell 46), McSheffrey, Nimely, Platt (Eastwood 79). Unused substitutes: Dunn, Baker, Wood.

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Middlesbrough: Coyne, Bennett (McManus 69), Bates, Rhys Williams (Smallwood 70), Hoyte (McMahon 70), Thomson, Haroun, Robson, Arca, McDonald, Emnes. Unused substitutes: Ripley, Martin.

Referee: G Sutton (Lincolnshire).

Man of the match: Alex Nimely.