Noel Whelan had a birthday to forget at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon but illustrious Middlesbrough team-mate Alen Boksic spared his blushes with an equaliser three minutes from the end of a tense relegation struggle.

Whelan, 26 today, looked to have gifted City a second successive away win with a bizarre own goal three minutes from the break.

Boro had marginally the better of a tight opening period when the visitors won a rare corner on the left.

Home keeper Mark Schwarzer failed to collect Thompson's inswinger but there was no visiting striker to pressurise Whelan as the ball dropped two yards beyond the far post.

Inexplicably, Whelan swung his right boot to clear, rocketed the ball off his shin past a stunned Schwarzer and into the top corner of the net.

Having failed to find the target regularly during his time at Coventry, the goal was greeted with glee by the visiting fans but almost with embarrassment by the Coventry players, who sheepishly celebrated their good fortune.

Whelan's misery was compounded when he also squandered a glorious chance to level midway through the second period.

He miscontrolled Paul Okon's perfect through ball, then smashed his shot high over the bar from eight yards as he instantly attempted to correct his own error.

Whelan was almost immediately replaced by Brian Deane and strode down unhappily down the tunnel with his head sunk deep into his chest.

But he should have stayed around to watch a master at work.

Boksic's best days may be behind him but the Croat, who started the game on the bench as he shook off the remnants of a heavy Christmas cold, remains a class act.

Taking Ince's pass in a similar position to that from which Whelan had earlier failed, Boksic kept a cool head and despatched his sixth goal of the season with the minimum of fuss to increase Boro's unbeaten run to four matches.

Boksic initial absence allowed Hamilton Ricard to return after a three-match ban.

Ricard started well but gradually drifted out of the contest as Paul Williams and Gary Breen smothered the Colombian before he could reach the penalty area.

Strike partner Whelan had the best early chance when he seized onto a Ricard shot which cannoned off the City defence.

However, although Whelan got his first time effort on target from an acute angle, Barry Quinn slid back to clear it off the line.

City boss Gordon Strachan, fresh from the Boxing Day win over Everton at Goodison Park, opted for the counter-attacking strategy which has served Terry Venables so well since his arrival on Teesside.

David Thompson, dismissed in the opening day meeting between the two sides, was one of three players booked during an untidy opening, during which Christian Karembeu was the game's sole constructive force.

On a surface which had been swept clear of snow but remained tricky underfoot, Thompson was yellow carded for a despairing lunge on Colin Cooper which eventually saw him replaced by Steve Vickers.

Cooper had already been cautioned for a tackle on Ysrael Zuniga, although he was quickly followed by Paul Telfer, who caught Paul Ince from behind.

Thompson saw two speculative efforts sail high and wide of Mark Schwarzer's crossbar midway through the first half.

But other than that, the Sky Blues had not managed a shot until their former player turned up to lash them in front in such unexpected manner.

To his credit, Whelan refused to dwell on his embarrassment, gamely searching for an opportunity to make amends.

Minor scuffles followed a penalty appeal after he had fallen attempting to nick the ball past City keeper Chris Kirkland.

Whelan also had the best early chance of the second period when he was released by Ricard, stepped inside the box but saw his low shot saved by the advancing Kirkland.

Whelan's next miss was the signal for his departure but the ascendency was now with Boro.

Craig Bellamy was booked for kicking the ball away as the clock ticked down and Kirkland produced a brilliant one-handed save to tip Keith O'Neill's curling free-kick round the post 15 minutes from time.

Boksic's close range header from the corner was also deflected wide but the former AC Milan star had the last laugh and Whelan could emerge from his personal misery and acknowledge the present of a precious point.

Teams

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Fleming, Festa, Karembeu (Boksic 45), Ince, O'Neill, Okon, Ehiogu, Ricard, Whelan (Deane 66),Cooper (Vickers 45).

Subs Not Used: Gordon, Crossley.

Booked: Cooper.

Goals: Boksic 86.

Coventry: Kirkland, Edworthy, Williams, Thompson, Hadji, Zuniga (Aloisi 64), Telfer, Breen, Bellamy (Chippo 77), Quinn,Carsley.

Subs Not Used: Shaw, Eustace, Hydlgaard.

Booked: Thompson, Bellamy.

Goals: Whelan 41 og.

Att: 30,499

Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury).