Coventry City are a step closer to promotion from the Championship but had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Hull City.
Amie Wilson Sports Writer
22:04, 06 Apr 2026
Frank Lampard watched his Coventry side draw to Hull(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Coventry City could secure promotion from the Championship at home against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, despite failing to win against Hull City.
The day started well for the Sky Blues, with Millwall falling to a surprise 2-1 home loss against Norwich City in the early kick-off. Later in the day, another challenger in Middlesbrough had to settle for a point as they played out a 2-2 draw away at Swansea City.
Those results allowed Ipswich to climb above them and into second place, meaning it’s now Boro and Millwall who will be watched by Coventry. Both teams currently sit on 72 points and have played the same number of games as the Sky Blues, while second-placed Ipswich are on the same points, but have two games in hand with one of them against Boro.
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Coventry took on Hull away in the late kick-off, but had to settle for a 0-0 draw with both sides only creating half-chances throughout the game.
Frank Lampard’s side did have a penalty shout in the second half when the ball appeared to come off a Hull defender’s hand in the box, but the referee waved away appeals.
The point could, however, be a crucial one as Coventry close in on a return to the Premier League.
When is the earliest that promotion can be secured?
Coventry now need to reach a total of 88 points to officially seal promotion to the Premier League, with Millwall and Middlesbrough only able to reach a maximum of 87.
The draw against Hull put the Sky Blues on 84 points.
With both Millwall and Middlesbrough dropping points on Monday, plus the draw against Hull, Coventry need just four more points to secure automatic promotion. Although with their vastly superior goal difference of +42, it’s three to effectively, if not mathematically, secure a return to the top flight.
Therefore, a win at home against bottom side Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday would only secure a top-two finish if both Middlesbrough and Millwall drop points.
If not, then four points from games against Wednesday and Blackburn, at Ewood Park, would secure promotion.
There is, however, another scenario where promotion can be secured at the weekend, even without a win.
How else can promotion be secured?
Coventry could be handed a huge promotion boost should Millwall drop points against West Brom on Friday and then Middlesbrough do the same in their game against Portsmouth on Saturday
If both Millwall and Middlesbrough lose their games, then promotion will be secured if Coventry draw against Wednesday.
If Coventry don’t secure promotion against either Wednesday or Blackburn, they will still have other chances to pick up the points they need. They host Portsmouth on Tuesday, 21 April, with a home clash against Wrexham following on Saturday, 26 April, with the season ending away at Watford on Saturday, 2 May.
The date of a possible promotion in that scenario could also depend on both Middlesbrough and Millwall’s results over the last few weeks of the season.