The on-loan striker failed to score in nine appearances during his time at The Riverside Stadium, but his headed goal helped the Sky Blues secure a surprise 3-1 victory over ten-man ‘Boro.
Three points against Tony Mowbray’s promotion chasers saw Nimely’s side move to within six points of Championship survival.
Greg Cunningham lasted only 23 minutes of Nottingham Forest’s trip to West Ham after picking up a knock – his absence didn’t help as Forest’s poor run continued with a 2-1 defeat.
Preston were without Harry Bunn as they suffered a 2-0 reverse at home to Leyton Orient, while Luca Scapuzzi was dropped to the bench by Oldham manager Paul Dickov.
The Italian striker eventually made his way on to the field with half an hour of the game remaining, but was unable to help his side break the deadlock as the game against Exeter City ended goalless.
With Emmanuel Adebayor unable to face the Blues and Dedryck Boyata unused on the bench throughout Bolton’s 3-1 win over Liverpool, there was no action for City’s Premier League loan stars.
It was similar story in the Eredivisie as Dutch football returned from its international break.
While John Guidetti was omitted from Feyenoord’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of VVV, Abdi Ibrahim watched on from the substitutes’ bench as NEC claimed all three points on their trip to Vitesse with a 2-1 win.
Vladimir Weiss played 88 minutes for Espanyol as they moved to fifth in La Liga with a 3-0 win over Granada. The Spanish outfit are now unbeaten in seven league games and moved to within three points of the top four.
Despite having only suffered one defeat in their last five league encounters – that coming against Barcelona – Roque Santa Cruz’s Real Betis slipped to 12th with a 1-1 draw against under-performing Sevilla.
The Paraguayan played 90 minutes for the recently-promoted club who now sit five points above the La Liga drop-zone.
