COVENTRY City’s promotion party remains on hold after the Sky Blues could only manage a goalless draw against already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday.
Only a win for the Sky Blues and defeat for Middlesbrough would have seen Coventry promoted before their next fixture.
However, the Sky Blues could not hold up their end of the bargain following a stalemate against bottom-of-the-table Wednesday in front of a record crowd at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
While Coventry will have to wait to seal promotion, the Sky Blues know a win in their next fixture against Blackburn Rovers would make sure of the club’s return to the Premier League.
Frank Lampard’s side threatened early on as Jack Rudoni sent a low free-kick narrowly past the post as he looked to catch out Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles.
The Owls responded with a chance of their own as Jamal Lowe saw his goalbound effort blocked by Joel Latibeaudiere.
Clear-cut chances remained at a premium as Ephron Mason-Clark fired a tame effort straight at Charles while Jerry Yates blazed a shot past the post at the other end.
Coventry came closest to breaking the deadlock when Kitching saw his header from a corner headed off the line by Svante Ingelsson.
The home side continued to search for the opener as Brandon Thomas-Asante headed over while Frank Onyeka failed to divert a volley on target from inside the box.
Wednesday spurned a glorious chance to take the lead early in the second half with Yates only able to turn a low ball in from the right over the crossbar from close range.
The Owls threatened again soon after as Ingelsson curled a shot over the bar when well-placed on the edge of the penalty area.
Coventry looked to up the tempo past the hour mark as Mason-Clark cut in from the left and saw his low effort from 20-yards out parried by Charles.
The Sky Blues went close again late on when Josh Eccles headed Matt Grimes’ free-kick from the left inches past the post.
Coventry pushed hard for a winner at the death as Ellis Simms saw his acrobatic effort deflect off a Wednesday defender and onto the outside of the post.
