Hull City earned a crucial point in their fight for Championship survival after Abu Kamara’s late goal denied Coventry City a deserved victory at the MKM Stadium.
Coventry controlled much of the game and looked set for three points when Matt Grimes’ long-range strike deflected in off Charlie Hughes shortly after half-time. But despite missing several key players, the Sky Blues couldn’t find a second goal, and Kamara’s deflected equaliser meant they had to settle for a draw that keeps them clinging to sixth place.
The visitors arrived with momentum and it showed early. Hull were carved open repeatedly, with top scorer Haji Wright denied three times in the first half by Ivor Pandur, who produced an outstanding performance in goal.
The breakthrough eventually came for Coventry when Grimes’ first-time effort squirmed past Pandur following a deflection. With the Tigers offering little going forward, it seemed the visitors would see out the win comfortably.
Pandur stars as Hull weather the storm
The Croatian goalkeeper was Hull’s standout performer, not only keeping out Wright but also reacting brilliantly to stop efforts from Kasey Palmer and Ellis Simms. In contrast, Hull’s attackers squandered their rare chances – Palmer missed from point-blank range and Lewie Coyle failed to convert late on when the ball fell kindly in the box.
But the defining moment came in the 89th minute. Nordin Amrabat floated a crossfield ball to Kamara, who struck goalwards from a tight angle. His effort clipped Jay Dasilva and wrong-footed Bradley Collins, levelling the scores to the disbelief of the away fans.
Despite the draw, Coventry still hold a three-point advantage over West Brom in the race for the final play-off spot. However, they’ll be frustrated at not putting the result beyond doubt, particularly with bottom side Plymouth on the horizon and a crunch clash against West Brom next.
For Hull, the point could be significant. With four games to go, they sit three clear of the drop zone and boast a superior goal difference to all teams below them. Kamara’s third goal in eight games may prove pivotal come the final reckoning.
“Coventry have been particularly good since Frank took over and we knew it would be a difficult game… The team showed character in the second half. The subs made a big impact and we managed to get the point and show we can be as competitive as anybody.” – Ruben Selles
Site opinion
There’s no escaping Coventry’s wastefulness here. With 16 goals missing from their line-up due to injury, the creative burden fell on others – and they couldn’t deliver. Hull, meanwhile, once again relied on grit, goalkeeping, and just enough luck. Kamara’s growing influence could be the x-factor that keeps the Tigers up, even as their scoring woes persist.
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