Having taken 31 points from 14 games since self-confessed Lampard fan Hellberg replaced Rob Edwards in November, their attacking play in the first half had lacked some of the cutting edge seen in their recent winning run, despite having more than 60% of the ball.

Morgan Whittaker put a free header over straight after the interval while Hayden Hackney’s tame shot on 55 minutes was their first on target.

But that inadvertently set the Sky Blues up to double their advantage with a goal that was throwback to football in the 1970s and 1980s.

From goalkeeper Carl Rushworth’s long kick out of his hands in one box, Wright bullied Luke Ayling out of the way and fired into the far corner inside the other.

McGree gave Boro some hope but they did not give themselves a chance to test any Coventry nerves as from the very next attack as play resumed, Targett sloppily put his hand out to block substitute Josh Eccles’ cross.

Wright stroked it into the bottom corner for his second Sky Blues hat-trick after one against Sunderland last March, and it is now six goals in five games against these opponents.

Substitute Jeremy Sarmiento hit the inside of the post for Boro late on but they were unable to prevent Coventry from completing a vital league double.