Coventry | Championship leaders move step closer to promotion

Hull City 0 - 0 Coventry City

Coventry City moved 12 points clear at the top of the Championship and closer to a return to the Premier League after a goalless draw at fellow promotion contenders Hull City.

Author | Frank L

Stadium | MKM Stadium

Despite bringing together two of the division’s most prolific sides, chances were scarce in a tense contest.

Coventry felt they had a case for a second-half penalty when a cross struck the arm of Hull defender Lewie Coyle, though appeals from the travelling support were more animated than anything that followed on the pitch.

The result leaves Frank Lampard’s side within four points of ending a 25-year absence from the top flight, while fifth-placed Hull remain firmly in the play-off positions and retain hopes of breaking into the automatic promotion places.

Hull City underlined their own promotion credentials

Eight wins from nine had restored Coventry City as clear leaders, their return to the Premier League increasingly seen as a formality with under a month of the season remaining.

Hull City are among the sides still chasing automatic promotion and, despite dropping points against relegation-threatened Oxford United three days earlier, they offered a reminder of the work still required from Frank Lampard’s side.

Hull began with intent, pressing high and attacking with purpose to place Coventry under sustained early pressure. Cody Drameh found himself on the end of two opportunities inside five minutes, while Joe Gelhardt fired narrowly wide.

Watch | Highlights from the Coventry City YouTube channel

The hosts’ clearest opening of the first half came via a goalkeeping mix-up when Carl Rushworth collided with Liam Kitching attempting to claim a cross. The loose ball fell kindly for John Egan, but Kitching recovered in time to produce a crucial block as Rushworth remained grounded.

Coventry settled after that moment but struggled to test Ivor Pandur before the interval.

Their approach after the break was more cautious, with Matt Grimes booked for hauling back Amir Hadziahmetovic as Hull threatened to break. Without VAR in operation in the Championship, a potential turning point passed largely unchallenged when the ball struck Lewie Coyle’s arm inside the area.

Beyond that, Coventry failed to register a shot on target in the second half, while Hull’s efforts were limited to tame attempts from Mohamed Belloumi and Gelhardt.