Hull win at Coventry to keep play-off hopes alive

Last updated on .From the section Championship

Hull City kept alive their Championship play-off hopes as they beat Coventry City in a furious five-goal showstopper.

The Sky Blues gifted Jaden Philogene's first-half opener, as well as Hull substitute Noah Ohio's 78th-minute winner with his first touch - while they were also on the wrong end of a contentious penalty.

Twice the Sky Blues levelled, first through Kasey Palmer's superb free-kick and then Bobby Thomas's header but Thomas's under-hit backpass allowed Ohio to hit the winner just two minutes after leaving the bench to lift the Tigers back to within three points of sixth-placed Norwich City.

And that leaves Coventry nine points adrift with three games left, a worse goal difference than Norwich - and needing snookers.

After Sunday's heart-breaking drama for the Sky Blues at Wembley, this game always threatened to be a real mental challenge for the hosts.

It took over half an hour for the game to come to life when keeper Collins made a mess dealing with Philogene's far from fiercely struck low right-foot shot - and allowed it to squirm under his body for Hull's 31st-minute opener.

Palmer took just five minutes to level when he curled home a stunning right-foot free-kick into the top left corner. But, on the stroke of half-time, Hull were back in front.

Joel Latibeaudiere was adjudged to have brought down Liam Delap, but video replays showed that the moment of contact appeared to come just outside the penalty area.

Carvalho was completely unnerved as he duly despatched a coolly-taken right-foot penalty. But the Hull celebrations lit the sky blue touch paper- and it led to a mass altercation between 21 of the 22 players, which brought four bookings.

City boss Mark Robins at least had the option of throwing on both his two big goal-scoring targetmen Haji Wright and Ellis Simms into the fray at half-time. And, on 58 minutes, the hosts were level when Thomas got his head Jay Dasilva's cross to scramble home a second equaliser.

But Thomas then left himself down at the other end, selling his keeper short with an ill-judged backpass, Collins was slow to respond as Ohio nipped in to score. And, although they did try to force a little drama, the 25,000 fans had no puff left after Wembley and could not lift them - and the tired hosts really had no more left to give.

Coventry's final three games this season are away at Blackburn on Saturday, followed by home matches against Ipswich Town and QPR.

Hull also host Ipswich this Saturday before rounding off their season at relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle.

"It was always going to be a tough ask after Sunday as the players were exhausted after all the effort we put in. It was a tough night.

"We could have done better on all three goals we conceded.

"It's a sad dressing room but we have to pick ourselves up. We need a fairy tale finish now.

"The pressure's off us now, as we need other teams to slip up but we still have to try and end the season on a high."

"I am proud. All of the work we have put in to building this team, this style, how we fight for each other.

"Noah's goal sums it up. He chases a lost cause and charges down the keeper. That sums up the mentality of this group.

"To come away to a really good team, some of the football we played in the first half was the stuff you dream about as a coach.

"We have to take it into a massive game against Ipswich on Saturday. Beyond anything that happens between now and the end of the season, I am really proud of the season and of how far we've come."