Coventry City vs Hull City. Sky Bet Championship.
The Coventry Building Society ArenaAttendance25,023.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Coventry City and Hull City at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Wednesday night | Tigers claim 3-2 win and are three points off top six with two games to play; Coventry's play-off hopes all but over
Thursday 25 April 2024 08:59, UK
Hull City kept up their push for a play-off place in the Sky Bet Championship with a 3-2 win against Coventry at the CBS Arena.
The Sky Blues had twice come from behind through Kasey Palmer and Bobby Thomas after goals from Jaden Philogene and Fabio Carvalho, before Noah Ohio latched onto a loose back-pass from Thomas to snatch all three points for the Tigers.
Hull's 11th away win of the season leaves Liam Rosenior's men three points off the play-offs with two games to play.
On the other hand, Coventry's top-six hopes are all but over as they were left nine points behind Norwich with three games remaining.
Just three days after the FA Cup semi-final heroics in which the Sky Blues almost overturned a three-goal deficit against Manchester United, Mark Robins made five changes to his starting line-up, with star strikers Ellis Simms and Haji Wright on the bench.
The Tigers wasted no time in taking advantage of any tiredness from Coventry as Brad Collins was forced to beat away Abdulkadir Omur's swerving effort, before Jacob Greaves hooked over.
Collins was left red-faced just past the half-hour mark when he spilled Philogene's tame effort into the back of the net after some neat footwork inside the box from Hull's top scorer.
Coventry were level soon after through Palmer, who stepped up to whip a free-kick into the top corner from the edge of the area five minutes later.
Collins made amends for his error when he tipped Philogene's effort over the bar to prevent Hull going ahead for a second time.
Leigh Doughty then gave Hull the chance to restore their lead on the stroke of half-time when he awarded a penalty for a foul on Liam Delap.
Boos rained down as Coventry felt the infringement was outside the box, while Sky Blues defender Thomas was laid on the turf clutching his face.
Fabio Carvalho duly dispatched the ninth goal of his loan spell from Liverpool from the spot before running to celebrate in front of the home crowd, sparking a melee which led to four yellow cards.
Robins unsurprisingly introduced Simms and Wright at the interval but it was Thomas who got the Sky Blues level for the second time on the night when he headed Jay Dasilva's cross into the bottom corner.
Thomas then turned from hero to villain when he gifted Hull their winner, his under-hit back-pass pounced upon by Ohio, who beat Collins to the ball and tapped in with his first touch two minutes after coming on.
It was only the fourth time Coventry had lost at home this campaign but one that ended their play-off hopes just days after their Wembley heartbreak.
Coventry City boss Mark Robins:
"First and foremost they have done brilliantly to get through it with the energy that they have shown, from Sunday to now there was absolutely no chance of recovery.
"I thought everyone did really well, but the only downside was a lack of concentration around the goals that we conceded because they were really poor.
"That's three on the bounce we have lost in the league and it's a long time since that's happened, so we have just spoken about that and spoken about the goals we conceded, that aren't great.
"But there's absolutely nothing you can do about it because of the energy levels, and you just knew it was coming.
"We are lacking in certain areas in terms of the depth, and we knew that and have known it for a long time, and this is where it comes home to roost.
"It's a difficult one because to all intents and purposes we have done as well as we possibly could do tonight - scored two really good goals at home and you would expect that to be enough to win it, especially this season for us where we have been really good here.
"But when you run out of steam, you run out of steam, and the changes we had to make were too early in the game.
"We have another game coming up and it's Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday and it's just ridiculous really. If we are going to have to play youngsters as well, then that's what we are going to have to do."
Hull City boss Liam Rosenior:
"It was two excellent teams. Every time I come up against Mark's team or I've seen Mark's teams over the years, I think he's an outstanding manager and Coventry were a credit to the Championship on Sunday, and I thought the game today was a credit to the Championship.
"The lads found a way. Everything I want to see from my team in terms of possession, dominance, control, our technical play - we came on to a really good game.
"We showed resilience and grit and determination to get the job done.
"There was a real selflessness about my group today regardless of who started and who was on the bench and we're going to need everyone between now and the end of the season."
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