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. The result means Coventry's promotion will have to wait, despite having the opportunity to go up if they had beaten the lowly Owls and Middlesbrough had lost to Portsmouth later in the day. Sheffield Wednesday, who have had a dismal season, secured only their third point of 2026 and broke the Football League record for most games without a win in all competitions, now standing at 37 matches. The home side had a few close calls, including a scare in the opening minutes when on-loan goalkeeper Carl Rushworth nearly got caught out in his own box, but Tayo Adaramola failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Coventry started to find their rhythm on the 20-minute mark when Milan van Ewijk made a run into the box, but his effort was blocked by a Wednesday defender. The hosts continued to push for a goal, with Liam Kitching's header being cleared off the line by Svante Ingelsson, and Brandon Thomas-Asante heading Haji Wright's cross over the crossbar. Sheffield Wednesday were more resilient in this match compared to their 5-0 loss to Coventry back in October, with Thomas-Asante being forced to clear Adaramola's dangerous low cross. The meeting between the two teams was the largest points difference for a match in Football League history, with 89 points separating the teams at the start of the day. Jack Rudoni, who had been the star of Coventry's 3-2 win against Derby on Easter Monday, scuffed a close-range effort, much to the relief of the Owls fans. Wednesday started the second half strongly, with Manchester City loanee Jaden Heskey making a run down the right and crossing for Jerry Yates, who turned his effort past the post. Thomas-Asante, who had been recalled to the starting line-up, was picked out by Jay Dasilva's cross from the left, but his air kick was met with groans from the record attendance of 31,476 inside the CBS Arena. Wednesday broke through Adaramola, who squared for Inglesson to lift his effort comfortably over. Ephron Mason-Clark, who had been quiet down the left, forced Pierce Charles into action when he cut inside from the left and fired towards goal. The hosts had appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Matthew Donohue with 20 minutes to go as Van Ewijk's cross struck the outstretched arm of Adaramola. Coventry, who have scored 25 set-piece goals this season, were agonizingly close to their 26th when substitute Josh Eccles headed Matt Grimes' free-kick inches wide of the post. Frustrations threatened to boil over in the closing stages as Kitching and a member of the Sheffield Wednesday medical team clashed as they came onto the field to treat Adaramola. Substitute Ellis Simms then saw his overhead kick deflected narrowly past the upright, meaning promotion will have to wait until another day for the Sky Blues. 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. When are you going to do it, the expectancy to do it, and maybe there was a small effect on the game. "To not win when three points are there, you create the chances we did but without having the usual snappy sharpness we have at the top of the pitch makes it a bit frustrating. "We obviously created enough to win the game but we didn't quite do it, and you have to credit the opposition for making it difficult for you. "When a team has nothing to gain, they also have nothing to lose. I think they've got a manager that's very driven, trying to do his job as well as he possibly can, so they were always going to make it as difficult as they possibly could. "Unfortunately we couldn't get the breakthrough even with the possession, the crosses and the chances that we had. "We normally score here, we normally win games here, so we have to keep a bit of perspective. But specifically for the players, because I know there's a pressure and everyone wants to release the pressure by getting it done and now we have to move onto the next one." Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen said: "We knew to take something here today, it should be a top, top plus performance. But we also spoke about that we are coming here not just to be a part of the game, we go here with the belief that we can do it. "We knew that there will be many phases without the ball, so our tactical game plan, and the discipline, and the togetherness would be a very important part. "But we also knew that if we not only have to be a part of the game then we should be good in the offensive transition. "How the boys worked through the whole game was amazing, not only how we competed but we also created some chances through the game which was really positive, and then of course you also need a little bit of luck to play a 0-0 at Coventry, but I'm really proud. "The big picture, to come here and play with this confidence, this belief in our situation does make me proud. "To go here and especially in the second half, we have had problems the last 15 minutes of many games, but how the connection stayed together, how they kept on fighting, how they kept with their chest high, big big respect for this culture the boys showed on the pitch." The £250,000 is up for grabs with Super 6, and as always it is completely free to play. Entries by 3pm Saturday.