Coventry City, managed by Frank Lampard, saw their Championship lead disappear following a 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. The Sky Blues, who held a 10-point advantage at the top in November, are now level on points with second-placed Middlesbrough. This marks a "tough period" for Lampard's side, who have suffered four defeats in their last seven league matches, according to Final Score EFL pundit Aaron McLean. McLean noted that confidence has become an issue for Coventry.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough continued their strong promotion push with a 1-0 victory over Norwich City at the Riverside Stadium. Midfielder and captain Hayden Hackney scored the winning goal in the 17th minute, curling home from long-range. This result secured Middlesbrough's fifth successive league win under manager Kim Hellberg. The Teessiders have now closed a substantial points gap, moving alongside Coventry at the top of the table. Hackney is described as a "Premier League player in-waiting" by McLean.
