GUSTAVO Hamer’s goal secured a top-six finish for Coventry City after the Sky Blues drew 1-1 away at Middlesbrough on the final day of the Championship season.
Hamer opened the scoring on 22 minutes before Cameron Archer equalised in first-half injury time at the Riverside Stadium with the two teams set to meet again in the play-off semi-finals.
The result meant Coventry ended the season in fifth place which marked the club’s highest league finish since relegation from the Premier League in 2000/01.
City went close early on when Hamer intercepted former Sky Blues man Ryan Giles’ pass and played a quick one-two with Viktor Gyokeres before seeing his shot superbly tipped behind by Zack Steffen.
The Sky Blues almost took the lead later in the half when Josh Eccles pounced on a loose pass and drove towards goal before shooting narrowly wide of the right post from 20-yards out.
However, City finally broke the deadlock on 22 minutes when Hamer drilled a shot into the bottom left corner from just inside the penalty area.
The home side equalised against the run of play at the end of the first half when Archer forced the ball home at the second attempt following a quickly-taken corner.
City goalkeeper Ben Wilson held Riley McGree’s effort before some last ditch defending prevented the Sky Blues from snatching the points late on.
Coventry host Boro in the first leg of their play-off semi-final on Sunday, May 14 with kick-off at midday at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
