FOOTBALL - Coventry City held to drab draw by Hull on opening day of Championship season - The Coventry Observer
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FOOTBALL - Coventry City held to drab draw by Hull on opening day of Championship season

Aaron Sutcliffe 9th Aug, 2025 Updated: 11th Aug, 2025   0

COVENTRY City played out a goalless draw with Hull City on the opening weekend of the new Championship season.

The Sky Blues came closest to breaking the deadlock as Milan van Ewijk saw his second-half effort come back off the post at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

The draw means City have now failed to win on the opening day of the season in each of the last four campaigns.

Coventry boss Frank Lampard handed a debut to goalkeeper Carl Rushworth although fellow new recruits Kaine Keslet-Hayden and Miguel Angel Brau had to settle for a place on the bench.

The Sky Blues created the first opening of the game when Tatsuhiro Sakamoto cut in from the right and curled a shot inches past the post.

And Victor Torp then slid the ball into the path of Jack Rudoni who saw his goalbound effort blocked behind by Charlie Hughes.




Rudoni went close again soon after as Hughes again blocked the midfielder’s toe poke behind for a corner.

The home side felt they should have had a penalty when Brandon Thomas-Asante beat Regan Slater to a loose ball in the box and appeared to be caught by the Hull man with referee Bobby Madley unmoved.


City remained on top as van Ewijk hurled a long throw into the box from the right only for Hull goalkeeper Ivor Pandur to hold Rudoni’s header.

Hull’s first real chance came five minutes before half time when Slater drove into the box and curled a shot well wide of the target.

The Sky Blues responded with a chance of their own when Sakamoto created space for a shot on the edge of the penalty area only to drag an effort just wide of the post.

Hull made a quick start to the second half as Abu Kamara burst clear of Jay Dasilva down the right only to shoot straight at Carl Rushworth from a tight angle.

Coventry came within inches of taking the lead soon after as van Ewijk saw his effort from 20-yards out crash against the post with Pandur beaten.

Chances remained at a premium thereafter with neither side able to find a breakthrough as van Ewijk blazed a free-kick over the bar from 25-yards out with virtually the last kick of the game.

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