Frank Lampard hailed Coventry City’s goalless draw at Hull as a “great point” that edged his side within a win of securing automatic promotion to the Premier League.
The Sky Blues were not at their attacking best on the night, managing just one attempt on target throughout a testing 90 minutes at the MKM Stadium where the City boss felt his side were denied the opportunity to snatch victory from the penalty spot late on in the game.
“It’s a great point, a great point!” said the head coach, speaking after the goalless draw with the fifth placed Tigers.
“They’re a good side, we know that, that’s why they are where they are; a well built squad of a bit of Premier League experience, strength, quality, speed at the top of the pitch, and power. So you have to respect that.
“I think the pitch here is really difficult to play on, really difficult to play well and move the ball really well. At times we did and at times not so much, but when you can’t have it all your own way, keep a clean sheet, get a point at this business end of the season. And I’m really, really happy.”
Lampard felt his side should have been awarded a penalty midway through the second half when defender Lewie Coyle was adjudged to have handled in the box from a Milan van Ewijk cross, insisting: “It was a clear hand ball, clear hand ball!”
But the point means the Sky Blues can effectively secure automatic promotion on Saturday if they win against bottom club Sheffield Wednesday, which would put them on 87 points which is the most both Middlesbrough and Millwall can achieve with five games left to play. And because of City’s vastly superior goal difference – 21 better off than Boro and 33 more than the Lions – it would mean that the club would be all but mathematically up.
Asked about the prospect, Lampard said: “Yeah, but let’s try and win and then we can do the maths of goal difference etc, etc. Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves but we do know what it is now. We know what it is.
“So let’s keep focused and not get caught up in that, but that’s just a reality and that’s credit to the players that with five games to go we’re in that position.”
Asked if it would be special to get promotion over the line in front of a bumper home crowd at the CBS Arena, he said: “I think it would be special to go over it anyway. I know your point. I’ve won things at home and they’re great. I’ve also won them on the road, and they’re great too.”
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