USMNT's Haji Wright and Coventry City book place in promotion playoff with win over Aidan Morris' Middlesbrough

U.S. international Haji Wright and Coventry City reached the Championship's promotion playoff behind a 2-0 win over Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough on Saturday. The match was the final of the clubs' Championship season, with Wright and Coventry finishing fifth on 69 points, while the loss doomed Morris' Boro to 10th on 64 points.

Coventry took the lead just before halftime on a goal from Jack Rudoni, and they held onto that lead throughout the second half. It was Rudoni who then put the game to bed, netting in the 87th minute to remove any doubt about Coventry's place in the playoff round.

The win keeps Coventry City's season alive as they look to make their push to the Premier League. Up next will be a clash with Sunderland, with the winner of that facing Sheffield United or Bristol City in that playoff finale.

Wright has been a key to the club's promotion push, as he leads the club with 12 goals despite playing just 26 games this season. The USMNT forward started on the left wing and played all 90 minutes in Saturday's win, while Morris put in a solid 79-minute shift in the Boro midfield.

While Sunderland and Sheffield United have been in the Premier League recently, Coventry City haven't kicked a ball in England's top flight since the 2000-01 season. Bristol City, the final of the four playoff teams, has never played in the Premier League.

The semifinals of the playoff are two-legged, and Coventry will host the first leg of that clash. The two sides will meet on Friday at the Coventry Building Society Arena before heading to the Stadium of Light for the second leg on May 13.