Robbie Keane produced an inspired performance to sweep away the doom and gloom hanging over Highfield Road and revive Coventry's hopes of a top 10 finish in the Premiership.

Gordon Strachan's side had gone into the game with a dismal record of seven defeats in their previous nine games - but it hardly showed in their general performance.

Keane was back to his brilliant best, scoring one goal and creating the other as he tormented the Boro rearguard throughout.

Coventry played with some of the flair and enterprise which had been their trademark in the middle part of the season when they embarrassed the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.

The irresistible Keane and Noel Whelan linked up well in attack and caused plenty of problems for the Boro back four.

Steve Froggatt relished the chance to switch from full-back to his more favoured wide midfield role after an injury to Youssef Chippo caused a reshuffle.

And in midfield Gary McAllister gave another cultured performance which belied his 35 years with a more-than-able helping hand from rookie John Eustace.

Robson is to be applauded for going into the game with a three pronged attack but Brian Deane, Hamilton Ricard and Andy Campbell had precious few opportunities.

Paul Ince did his best to inspire Boro but they can have few complaints about the final outcome.

There was little to enthuse about in the opening 15 minutes, but then Coventry carved out the first clearcut opening of the game.

A long ball from Gary Breen picked out Whelan and left him with a clear run on goal, however Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was able to beat out his eventual shot.

The home side suffered a setback when Chippo limped out of the action after 26 minutes to be replaced by David Burrows, allowing Froggatt to adopt the more forward role.

But it needed a helping hand from Ince to enable Strachan's out-of-form side to break the deadlock in the 33rd minute.

Keane played a one-two with Whelan and he found himself clear of the Boro defence.

Schwarzer managed to parry away his left-footed shot but the rebound struck the unfortunate Ince who could only help the ball over his own goal-line.

Boro's adventurous formation brought them little in the way of a threat to the Coventry goal in the opening 45 minutes with Magnus Hedman not seriously tested.

All they had to offer was a Deane shot which flew over the bar and a downward header from Ricard which contained little power and was easy meat for Hedman.

But Schwarzer was tested again just before the interval when he needed two attempts to hold onto a low, skidding drive from the edge of the area by Eustace.

Eustace twice came close to grabbing the all important goal for Coventry in the first six minutes of the second half.

First he had a shot blocked by Schwarzer after a long clearance had caused Boro problems.

Then an inswinging centre from Burrows picked out Eustace but he chested the ball down - and straight to a relieved Schwarzer.

Coventry were now in the ascendancy and Ince nearly unwittingly handed them a second goal.

A headed clearance from Steve Vickers hit Ince and rebounded to McAllister with his back to goal only six yards out.

But he failed to get the full power on his shot which Schwarzer saved low to his right.

It was only a temporary reprieve for Boro and after 61 minutes Keane doubled Coventry's lead.

Whelan sent him clear and he stroked the ball wide of Schwarzer into the corner of the net.

However, within three minutes Christian Ziege gave Boro a life-line from the penalty spot after Andy Campbell was brought down in the box by Eustace.

It was Coventry who went closest to adding to the score-sheet when Schwarzer tipped away a back header from Moustapha Hadji.

Teams:

Coventry: Hedman, Telfer, Breen, Hendry, Froggatt, Chippo (Burrows 26), Eustace, McAllister, Hadji, Keane, Whelan.

Subs Not Used: Ogrizovic, Quinn, Williams, Zuniga.

Booked: Eustace, Breen.

Goals: Ince 32 og, Keane 61.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Fleming (Juninho 60), Vickers, Festa, Ziege, Mustoe, Ince, Summerbell (Stamp 60), Campbell (Stockdale 89), Ricard, Deane.

Subs Not Used: Beresford, Gavin.

Booked: Ince, Vickers.

Goals: Ziege 64 pen.

Att: 19,435

Ref: N Barry (Scunthorpe).