Grant Hall scored his first goal for Middlesbrough with the equaliser against Coventry City
Middlesbrough came from behind to beat Coventry City and reignite their play-off push.
Both sides had looked set to continue their indifferent form with a draw until George Saville won it for the visitors late on.
The second half was low on quality, but Jonny Howson made a surging run to the byline and played the ball across the face of goal for Saville to tap into an empty net.
Coventry had gone ahead early on when Boro centre-back Anfernee Dijksteel diverted the ball into his own net after Sam McCallum's long throw-in caused confusion in the six-yard box.
The visitors improved and were rewarded shortly before half-time when Grant Hall headed in Paddy McNair's free-kick at the back post to level.
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Having taken just a single point from home games against Bristol City and Cardiff City, Neil Warnock's side registered back-to-back away wins to keep them within three points of the top six.
Coventry, meanwhile, have won just once in nine league games and remain six points above the bottom three.
The Sky Blues are without a win in their past three games and could not repeat their impressive last home performance when they deservedly beat title contenders Brentford.
After Dijksteel had presented them with an early lead, Gustavo Hamer came closest to extending that when he fired narrowly wide from Liam Kelly's lay-off.
Boro went close when Neeskens Kebano's shot was blocked on the line by Coventry centre-back Michael Rose before Hall headed his first goal for the club.
Coventry struggled to impose themselves after the break and their next concerted spell of pressure came shortly before substitute Saville won it for Boro.
Matty James and Hamer both shot wide, while the Dutchman saw a shot deflected behind for a corner in stoppage-time.
Coventry City manager Mark Robins told BBC CWR Radio:
"There wasn't a lot in that game. They do what they do and we do what we do.
"We ended up not getting the balance right in the first half and probably went too long too often despite taking the lead.
"They get you into positions where you don't want to be and the changes they were able to make off the bench put us under pressure and made the difference in the end.
"There were some things we did in the second half where I thought we were better, but the irony is they've ended up getting the better of us.
"There's that little bit of know-how and experience that gave them a little bit of a boost."
Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock told BBC Radio Tees:
"It was a difficult match on a tough pitch and they've changed their style to be very direct.
"It took us a bit of adapting, but we got there in the end. It was really disappointing to concede from another long throw-in, it makes you wonder why we bother marking anyone.
"But Paddy McNair's delivery from that free-kick was different class and it was great to see Grant Hall on the end of it.
"I always thought in the second half we could play better and the substitutes made that key difference for us in the end."
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsCoventry
Formation 3-4-1-2
13Wilson4Rose5McFadzean15Hyam23Dabo38Hamer6Kelly21McCallum11O'Hare19Walker9Biamou
- 13Wilson4Rose5McFadzeanBooked at 90mins15Hyam23Dabo38Hamer6KellySubstituted forJamesat 71'minutes21McCallum11O'Hare19Walker9Biamou
Substitutes
- 1Marosi8Allen10Jobello12Gyökeres14Sheaf16Pask20Bakayoko25James26Shipley
Middlesbrough
Formation 3-5-2
1Bettinelli2Dijksteel4Hall6Fry29Spence7Tavernier17McNair16Howson27Bola10Akpom21Kebano
- 1Bettinelli2Dijksteel4Hall6Fry29Spence7TavernierSubstituted forSavilleat 85'minutes17McNairBooked at 54mins16Howson27BolaSubstituted forJohnsonat 74'minutes10AkpomBooked at 31minsSubstituted forBolasieat 74'minutes21KebanoSubstituted forWatmoreat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Johnson5Morsy9Assombalonga13Archer14Bolasie18Watmore19Mendez-Laing20Fisher22Saville
Referee:Graham ScottMatch StatsHome TeamCoventryAway TeamMiddlesbroughPossessionHome52%Away48%ShotsHome8Away11Shots on TargetHome0Away2CornersHome3Away2FoulsHome15Away9Live TextPost update
Match ends, Coventry City 1, Middlesbrough 2.
90'+5'Full Time
Second Half ends, Coventry City 1, Middlesbrough 2.
90'+4'Post update
Attempt missed. Yannick Bolasie (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by George Saville.
90'+1'Booking
Kyle McFadzean (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
90'+1'Post update
Hand ball by Kyle McFadzean (Coventry City).
90'Post update
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Grant Hall.
90'Post update
Attempt blocked. Gustavo Hamer (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum O'Hare.
88'Post update
Foul by Callum O'Hare (Coventry City).
88'Post update
Marvin Johnson (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87'goalGoal!
Goal! Coventry City 1, Middlesbrough 2. George Saville (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner.
87'Post update
Attempt blocked. Duncan Watmore (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Jonny Howson.
85'Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. George Saville replaces Marcus Tavernier because of an injury.
84'Post update
Offside, Coventry City. Callum O'Hare tries a through ball, but Tyler Walker is caught offside.
83'Post update
Attempt blocked. Jonny Howson (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marvin Johnson.
81'Post update
Attempt missed. Gustavo Hamer (Coventry City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Fankaty Dabo following a corner.
80'Post update
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Dael Fry.
80'Post update
Attempt blocked. Matty James (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum O'Hare.
79'Post update
Gustavo Hamer (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79'Post update
Foul by Anfernee Dijksteel (Middlesbrough).
74'Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Marvin Johnson replaces Marc Bola.
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