Coventry another step closer to promotion despite frustrating stalemate at Hull

Coventry crept closer to promotion to the Premier League despite an off-colour display in a goalless draw at Hull.

Setbacks for promotion rivals Millwall and Middlesbrough meant a win for Coventry would have moved them to within two points of guaranteeing a return to the top flight for the first time in 25 years.

While the Sky Blues were second best for large spells at the MKM Stadium and fortunate to avoid defeat, they retained their 12-point lead atop the Sky Bet Championship table with five matches now remaining.

Having the best goal difference in the league means a win at home over already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday should be enough to go up, having drawn a blank for the first time in 10 matches on Monday.

Coventry are the leading scorers in the division but they rarely threatened to make a breakthrough on Easter Monday against fifth-placed Hull, whose hopes of automatic promotion look to be receding.

The Tigers, who have won just two of their last seven fixtures, had the best chance as Joe Egan was denied early on by Liam Kitching after the usually reliable Carl Rushworth fumbled in the area.

The hosts, though, lacked a cutting edge against Frank Lampard’s side as they slipped four points off the top four although they are five clear of seventh-placed Southampton, who have two games in hand.

Hull made a bright start and Liam Millar, one of five changes to their XI from Good Friday’s 1-1 draw at Oxford, tormented Milan van Ewijk down the left flank, while Cody Drameh twice missed the target.

Joe Gelhardt was given time and space to choose his spot from 25 yards but curled over and Rushworth spilled another cross from the left, with Kitching’s desperate block stopping Egan from scoring.

Coventry had endured a torrid opening quarter of an hour but they gradually gained a foothold, using their physicality to disrupt Hull’s momentum, and a couple of quick counters showed their threat.

Victor Torp, one of four changes to Lampard’s XI from a 3-2 win over Derby last time out, got in behind the Hull defence but dragged harmlessly wide while he then forced a low save from Ivor Pandur.

Headers from Gelhardt and Oli McBurnie lacked the power to properly test Rushworth as Hull again got on the front foot after the break, without being able to create anything clear cut.

Matt Grimes was booked for a cynical foul on Amir Hadziahmetovic as Hull tried to pour forwards, while at the other end Tatsuhiro Sakamoto got in ahead of Coyle but his pull back was intercepted by Egan.

Jack Rudoni, who bagged a brace for Coventry against Derby, and Mohamed Belloumi, who scored for Hull against Oxford, were introduced as Lampard and Sergej Jakirovic tried to find a late winner.

But it made little difference to proceedings and while McBurnie headed wide late on, the sides emulated their result at the Coventry Building Society Arena the opening day of the season.