Coventry's Promotion Bid Put on Hold After Goalless Draw with Sheffield Wednesday

Championship leaders Coventry were denied the chance to move within a point of promotion to the Premier League after being held to a 0-0 draw by already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday. Frank Lampard's side would have been promoted with a win, provided Middlesbrough failed to beat Portsmouth later in the day. The draw marked only the third point of 2026 for Sheffield Wednesday, who set a new Football League record for most consecutive games without a win. Coventry had previously thrashed the Owls 5-0 at Hillsborough in October, but Wednesday put up a much stronger fight this time around. The match was the largest points difference in Football League history, with 89 points separating the teams at the start of the day. Coventry's Jack Rudoni, who scored twice in their 3-2 win against Derby on Easter Monday, scuffed a close-range effort, while Wednesday's Jaden Heskey and Jerry Yates also had chances. The hosts had appeals for a penalty waved away with 20 minutes to go, and substitute Josh Eccles headed a free-kick inches wide of the post. Frustrations boiled over in the closing stages, but Coventry will have to wait another day for promotion. Coventry manager Frank Lampard said, 'I think there's understandable elements to the game, there's a bit of tension to do that and a lot of the players are probably living this situation for the first time.' Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen praised his team's performance, saying, 'We knew to take something here today, it should be a top, top plus performance.'