Sky Blues seek cup upset

Middlesbrough become the first Premiership visitors to the Ricoh Arena on Saturday for an FA Cup 4th Round tie that Coventry City will feel they have a great chance of winning.

The Teessiders go into the game on what chief executive Keith Lamb admits is a 'low ebb'.

Lamb was speaking on a local radio phone-in on Tuesday on which he admitted that manager Steve McClaren had made mistakes but that his position was not in jeopardy.

'It is my judgment that Steve has made some mistakes but everybody does,' said Lamb

'He also made some good decisions and in the last four and a half years and we have had more good times than bad times.

'The club is at a low ebb but we don't intend to panic.

'What we need to do is to pull together, circle the wagons and fight our way out of it.

'It was important what Steve said on Saturday that we are in a relegation battle. Unless there is a realisation of that, then how are we going to address it?'

Despite more heavy investment in players over the summer, including the signing of Yakubu for £7.5million, 'Boro currently lie just three points above a resurgent Birmingham and a relegation place in the Premiership and in recent weeks have been held to a draw by non-league Nuneaton Borough as well as losing 7-0 to Arsenal.

The Sky Blues on the other hand will go into the game with nothing to lose and in a positive frame of mind.

Saturday's win against Derby continued their excellent recent home form and means that barring either a massive winning streak or dramatic loss of form, City will still be in the Championship next season and allow them to give the FA Cup their best shot.