Frank Lampard reveals Hull City issue that affected Coventry City - 'I'm not trying to make excuses' | OneFootball

The Sky Blues boss has attributed a disjointed attacking performance to the MKM Stadium pitch

The expectations at both Coventry City and Hull City have changed drastically since their first meeting on the opening day of the season, but the result on Monday remained the same - a goalless stalemate.

The point at the start of the season at the CBS Arena arguably meant more for the Tigers, who were tipped to be among the relegation strugglers pre-season, while now, 40 games later, the two are fighting at the top end, and three points would have been vital for both.

In the end, Coventry remained 12 points clear of third place, while Hull were unable to take full advantage of playing before Wrexham and Southampton face off, but still managed to extend the points gap to four between themselves and the Red Dragons, and five for the Saints.

But the performance will be one that Sergej Jakirovic will be proud of, as Hull frustrated the free-scoring league leaders, allowing just one shot on target throughout the whole game and becoming the first team since Oxford United at the start of February to keep a clean sheet against Frank Lampard's side.

They played to their strengths and used the conditions of the MKM Stadium pitch to their advantage, something which the Sky Blues boss admitted was difficult to get to grips with.

Frank Lampard opens up about MKM Stadium conditions

Hull's surface at the MKM Stadium is notoriously more cut up towards the tail end of the campaign, as the Tigers share the ground with rugby league side Hull FC, who began their campaign in February.

After the game, Lampard stated, per Coventry Live, that the conditions played a part in what was a rare, disjointed attacking performance from his side.

"I think the pitch here is really difficult to play on, to move the ball well. At times we did, at times not so much, but when you can't have it all your own way, you keep a clean sheet and get a point at the business end of the season," he said.

"I'm not trying to make excuses for that. I think it was a fair point for both teams, and I'm happy with the approach of the lads — I thought they were great.

"On that pitch, we had to be really careful because if they press you and the ball's bobbling, your first touch is difficult. That's a thing, but they're used to handling it, I guess.

"Bits of it were cutting up...soft, bare. I walked on it at the end, and it's worse than it looks. Again, I'm definitely not an excuse maker here because you've got to handle it, and it's the same for both teams and all that stuff, but if you want to move the ball well, there are a few pitches we've played on this year that are not that great."

To come away with a point and a clean sheet under difficult circumstances and against a strong, fellow top-six side will be something that Lampard will be delighted with, even if Coventry weren't able to extend their lead at the top to 14 points.

Sergej Jakirovic reacts to Frank Lampard's pitch condition comments

Ultimately, though, Hull's pitch at the MKM Stadium isn't the greatest in the league by a long stretch, regardless of the time of year, with the pitch being one of the few in the Championship that gets affected the worst by bad weather during the winter months.

Tigers boss Sergej Jakirovic alluded to that when Frank Lampard's comments were relayed to him in the light-hearted manner that has come to be expected of the Bosnian in interviews this season.

"This is the best condition of the pitch this spring. Imagine that we played four months ago — he would go home!" he said.

"I think the pitch was OK. Maybe they have a better pitch — 100 per cent. You have been here with me, so you can see with my boys that the passing was very fast, sharp, and no technical issues. But, OK, in the Premier League, they will have better pitches."

That's the destination of Coventry in a couple of weeks, to the top flight for the first time since the 2000/01 campaign.

Hull will be looking to join them in the Premier League via the play-offs come the end of May, though. If they do, you can imagine that Frank Lampard may not be the only top-flight manager to take umbrage with the surface at the MKM Stadium.