Championship talking points: Are Middlesbrough now promotion favourites as Coventry slip again?

The day couldn't have gone much better for Middlesbrough. With Coventry and Ipswich dropping vital points, Boro drew level at the summit with this hard-fought win over Norwich.

The two teams went into the game as the form sides in the Championship and it showed - this was a high-level game. Hayden Hackney's 17th-minute stunner was all that separated the sides as Norwich pushed Kim Hellberg's side all the way.

The glaring question post-match was why Norwich find themselves where they are in the table given the strength of this performance, allied to recent displays. They might even have a chance of a play-off spot if they keep this up.

For Hellberg, it was a vital win. Five wins on the spin now makes them favourites for the title.

I had the temerity to ask, if like any other manager, he ignores the league table at this stage of the season. "Of course I look at it", he smiled. "I just looked at it before I came in to speak to you. It looks good, huh?"