Relegation-battling Hull City get late draw against play-off chasing Coventry
Hughes deflected Grimes shot into own net to give Coventry lead
Kamara levelled for Hull with deflected shot
Sky Blues manager Frank Lampard was serving one-match ban
Tigers move three points above drop zone
Sixth-placed Coventry three points above seventh-placed West Brom
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Hull 0-0 Coventry
Peter Swan
Former Hull City player on BBC Radio Humberside
Unbelievable. Those were two great opportunities for Kasey Palmer.
The first one was the easiest - he tried to side-foot it when he needed to leather it. It was only five or six yards out.
Hull City 0-0 Coventry
Wow - for all Coventry's dominance Hull City have a golden chance to take the lead but Kasey Palmer, with the goal gaping, sees his effort cleared off the line and when it comes back to him he again has a defender in the way.
Brilliant defending from Matt Grimes twice for the visitors but Palmer pulls his shirt over his face - he knows it should be 1-0.
Hull City 0-0 Coventry
Haji Wright bursts into the box with real intent and slides a ball in along the six-yard line but Tatsuhiro Sakamoto can't quite make contact.
The only surprise is Coventry aren't ahead.
Hull City 0-0 Coventry
Lewie Coyle at last gets in behind Coventry's defence to lift in a threatening cross for the home side but he cuts a frustrated figure when he sees no-one has gambled to get in the box and try to finish things off.
It was good build-up involving Joe Gelhardt but they do look like toothless Tigers tonight.
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Jon, Balsall Common: What's Lampard's touchline ban going to be like when Coventry stop scoring 94th-minute winners?
Jamie Paterson scored the late clincher for tonight's visitors at home to Portsmouth on Saturday. More added-time drama to come here?
Hull City 0-0 Coventry
Hull City are making no inroads whatsoever on Coventry and at times the visitors' smart one and two touch football has got them struggling to keep pace.
The positive for the home side is it's still 0-0.
It's quiet inside the MKM Stadium.
Image source, Rex FeaturesHull 0-0 Coventry
Peter Swan
Former Hull City player on BBC Radio Humberside
Coventry are very much growing into this. They're showing movement and finding space.
Ivor Pandur has had to show a safe pair of hands on two or three occasions.
Hull need an injection of something. We've had to get used to watching them like this at times, unfortunately.
It looks like Coventry have sold out their allocation in the away end.
Hull City 0-0 Coventry
The home side are yet to have a shot on target.
Coventry have had four efforts saved by Ivor Pandur.
Of the strugglers only Cardiff are below Hull City in the current form table across six games and you can see why.
Image source, Rex FeaturesHull 0-0 Coventry
Steve Ogrizovic
Ex-Coventry City goalkeeper on BBC CWR
That was an excellent move from Coventry for the first chance, with Matt Grimes starting things at the back and Ivor Pandur making a smart save from quite close distance.
The angle wasn't quite as good for the second opportunity, but Haji Wright has got a powerful left foot.
He's got to work harder off the ball, though, for me.
Hull City 0-0 Coventry
More good play from Coventry and here is Haji Wright getting on the end of things yet again and yet again Ivor Pandur has to make a good save.
Worrying signs for the home side.
Hull City 0-0 Coventry
Coventry are content to hold onto a bit of possession and try to work an opening.
They are getting a lot of joy down both flanks and the home side are having to stay very disciplined.
Tatsuhrio Sakamoto goes off down the right and his cutback is met powerfully by Haji Wright and Ivor Pandur makes a smart save.
Hull 0-0 Coventry
Clive Eakin
BBC CWR Sport
Coventry assistant manager Joe Edwards is getting a few messages out there.
I don't know whether he's wired up to Frank Lampard but he's taking the initiative. He has experience as the main honcho at Millwall.
Image source, PA MediaHull 0-0 Coventry
Steve Ogrizovic
Ex-Coventry City goalkeeper on BBC CWR
That's a decent throw from Lincoln, isn't it? Both sides have got players who can catapult it into the six-yard box, with Milan van Ewijk for Hull.
Coventry have been caught out playing a high line with no pressure on the ball.
Jay Dasilva has already had to make a couple of timely interventions - most recently when Haji Wright got done on the wing.
Hull have got a few players who can travel, but Coventry have too, thankfully.
Hull City 0-0 Coventry
Lincoln winds up another one of his long throws and it bounces dangerously in the Coventry box before being cleared.
I saw Bradford use the tactic to good effect against Swindon on Saturday - just don't mention the result.
It feels like a bit of a throwback (!) seeing a long throw used so well but it's nice to know it hasn't been lost to the game.
Goalless, but it's very watchable.
Hull City 0-0 Coventry
Coventry boss Frank Lampard is having to watch from the TV gantry tonight because of a one match touchline ban following his dismissal against Burnley.
He's well wrapped-up - we may have been soaking-up the sun over the past couple of weeks but it's chilly inside the MKM Stadium tonight.
Image source, PA MediaHull City 0-0 Coventry
Ellis Simms is away again for Coventry, this time down the left and he calls Ivor Pandur into action with a solid save.
The forward's pace is causing the home side problems.
Hull City 0-0 Coventry
Coventry are looking for a first league double over Hull City since 2007 and they may fancy it tonight given no-one in the Championship has fewer home points than the Tigers this season - they have managed only 19 from a possible 60.
It's quite an open start and we have also seen Ivor Pandur palm away a Haji Wright header.
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Dr Steve: I fear the worst for Hull.
Don Carlo: Please let Bobby Thomas and Ephron Mason-Clark be back for Friday against West Brom.
Dan Harvey: A bit deflated with Coventry's team news, but it's a great chance for the players coming in. I can see goals at both ends - maybe 2-2.
Hull 0-0 Coventry
Mike White
Commentator on BBC Radio Humberside
Is this must-win or mustn't lose for Hull?
It's must-win. The games are running out now - there's no time for dropping points.
They've got to win this one. If they do, they're in a bit more of a comfortable position with four games remaining.
Hull City 0-0 Coventry
Lincoln launches a long throw into the Coventry area but it bounces through to Bradley Collins.
You feel Lincoln could reach Lincoln from there with that throw - it will be a real threat to Coventry tonight.
Abu Kamara's fifth league goal of the season earned Hull a draw against Coventry
Abu Kamara's late equaliser earned Hull City a potentially precious point in their survival bid and kept Coventry City sixth in the Championship despite a dominant display from the Sky Blues at The MKM Stadium.
Matt Grimes had given the visitors a deserved 46th-minute lead when the midfielder's first-time shot from outside the penalty area hit centre-back Charlie Hughes' leg and dribbled past wrong-footed goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.
Forward Kamara replied in equally fortuitous fashion, latching on to fellow substitute Nordin Amrabat's crossfield pass and seeing his curling effort from an angle hit Jay Dasilva and beat Bradley Collins at the goalkeeper's near post.
Among a string of excellent saves, Pandur denied City top scorer Haji Wright three times during the first half before Kasey Palmer spurned two chances from point-blank range for Hull with half-time looming.
Milan van Ewijk had a chance to win it in stoppage time for Coventry but Pandur palmed the right-back's powerful shot around a post.
Hull are now three points above the relegation zone with four games remaining, and Coventry also have a three-point buffer to seventh-placed West Brom in the play-off race.
Coventry looked comfortable and far likelier to score for much of the second half, with assistant manager Joe Edwards deputising while the suspended Frank Lampard watched from the stand.
Only another fine stop from Pandur prevented Ellis Simms from doubling their advantage when the striker's fierce shot was tipped over the bar as the promotion-chasers piled on the pressure.
Depleted Coventry were without defender Bobby Thomas, who had been almost ever-present this season, midfielder Victor Torp - stretchered off during their late win at home to Portsmouth last Wednesday - and forward Ephron Mason-Clark.
The trio have been responsible for 16 of City's 58 league goals this season, but their side had few problems carving Hull open and Wright went even closer when a post denied the USA international his 12th goal of the season from a flicked header that appeared to catch Pandur out.
Coventry had been on course for a double over Hull but have now failed to win five of the last six meetings between the pair
Only second-bottom Luton Town have a lower tally than the Tigers's 41 league goals this season, and that goal-shy form seemed certain to continue after Lewie Coyle showed a lack of conviction to rival Palmer's astonishing misses when the ball fell kindly for him eight yards out with 16 minutes remaining.
The home fans made their agitation clear to a side appearing bereft of ideas and outclassed, but 21-year-old Kamara's third goal in eight league matches boosted their survival hopes.
As well as the three-point gap to the relegation zone, the Tigers have a goal superiority of at least 12 over any of the teams in the bottom three.
Coventry host West Brom on Friday in what is now an even more crucial fixture for both sides' promotion hopes.
Hull travel to 12th-placed Swansea City on the same day and host Preston North End on Monday, when Coventry visit bottom side Plymouth.
Hull manager Ruben Selles told BBC Radio Humberside:
"Coventry have been particularly good since Frank took over and we knew it would be a difficult game. We managed to be competitive, stayed in the game and created situations like the one for Kasey [Palmer] - we need to start to put those in.
"The game management we showed for the goal we conceded is something we need to stop and eradicate from our game - hopefully forever - because it's costing us points.
"The team showed character in the second half. The subs made a big impact and we managed to get the point and show we can be as competitive as anybody. I know what I have in my dressing room - they are competitors and doing everything for the club."
Coventry manager Frank Lampard told BBC CWR:
"At this stage of the season you have to take a point and accept it, but we deserved more. Our play was really good with just the end bit missing, at times.
"Our defensive game in the first half was really good. They created one chance but it was a foul on Ben Sheaf - other than that, there was no danger and we created a number of chances, particularly at 1-0.
"I'm really happy with the players and disappointed for them that we didn't get three points. No disrespect to Hull, who are a good team, but we played like a team playing for the play-offs and I enjoyed our performance."
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 25 | 13 | 4 | 82 | 29 | 53 | 88 |
| |
| 42 | 24 | 16 | 2 | 57 | 13 | 44 | 88 |
| |
| 42 | 26 | 7 | 9 | 57 | 33 | 24 | 83 |
| |
| 42 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 57 | 38 | 19 | 76 |
| |
| 42 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 54 | 45 | 9 | 64 |
| |
| 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 59 | 54 | 5 | 63 |
| |
| 42 | 14 | 18 | 10 | 51 | 39 | 12 | 60 |
| |
| 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 61 | 51 | 10 | 60 |
| |
| 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 60 |
| |
| 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 45 | 45 | 0 | 56 |
| |
| 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 50 | 55 | -5 | 56 |
| |
| 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 45 | 51 | -6 | 54 |
| |
| 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 63 | 58 | 5 | 53 |
| |
| 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 56 | 64 | -8 | 53 |
| |
| 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 49 | 55 | -6 | 50 |
| |
| 42 | 10 | 19 | 13 | 43 | 51 | -8 | 49 |
| |
| 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 43 | 60 | -17 | 48 |
| |
| 42 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 43 | 54 | -11 | 47 |
| |
| 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 66 | -16 | 46 |
| |
| 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 41 | 50 | -9 | 45 |
| |
| 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 44 | 54 | -10 | 43 |
| |
| 42 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 45 | 66 | -21 | 42 |
| |
| 42 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 37 | 63 | -26 | 40 |
| |
| 42 | 9 | 13 | 20 | 44 | 82 | -38 | 40 |
|
Manager: Rubén Sellés
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Joe Edwards
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Rubén Sellés
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Joe Edwards
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Championship
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Hull City have lost just one of their last six league games against Coventry City (W3 D2), though that sole defeat did come in the reverse fixture back in December (2-1).
Coventry City will be looking to record a first league double against Hull City since the 2006-07 campaign.
Hull have picked up fewer points at home in the Championship this season than any other side (19), losing nine of their 20 home league matches (W4 D7).
Coventry City have lost both of their last two away league games, last losing three on the spin in November 2023.
Hull City have lost 11 of their last 16 league games played on a Monday (W3 D2). Meanwhile, Coventry have only won one of their last 18 away league games on this day of the week (D4 L13), although that was their most recent at Middlesbrough on New Year's Day 2024 (3-1).
