Championship: Leicester relegated after draw with Hull as five-star Coventry crowned champions

Leicester City’s relegation to League One was confirmed despite Gary Rowett’s side playing out a 2-2 draw with promotion-chasing Hull City at King Power Stadium on Tuesday.

The Foxes knew a win was a must to keep their fading hopes of staying in the second tier alive, and despite leading early in the second half, they were unable to get the job done.

It is now three straight relegations for Leicester, who 10 years ago were celebrating winning the Premier League, to now playing in League One for the first time since 2008-09.

It took just 18 minutes for the visitors to take the lead when Liam Millar curled into the bottom-right corner to ruthlessly punish Asmir Begovic’s poor pass out from the back.

However, the Foxes hit back in the 52nd minute when half-time substitute Lewis Koumas fouled Abdul Fatawu inside the box, with Jordan James scoring the resulting penalty.

It got even better for Leicester two minutes later as Luke Thomas volleyed Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s cross past Ivor Pandur and into the bottom-right corner from close range.

But the Foxes’ joy was short-lived as Oliver McBurnie restored parity just after the hour when he collected Millar’s cutback before firing past Begovic and into the net.

And despite piling on the pressure in search of an all-important winning goal, Leicester were unable to break down Hull’s defence as a chorus of boos greeted the full-time whistle.

Full-time.#LEIHUL | @BCGame pic.twitter.com/lqi8GfG8aB

— Leicester City (@LCFC) April 21, 2026

At the opposite end of the table, Coventry City were crowned champions of the second tier after an emphatic 5-1 win over Portsmouth at The Coventry Building Society Arena.

Haji Wright opened the scoring in the 12th minute when he met Jack Rudoni’s inviting corner, though Portsmouth goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid will feel he should have done better.

And two goals early in the second half sealed the deal for Frank Lampard’s side, who pulled further clear through Ephron Mason-Clark after another error from Schmid.

Portsmouth’s misery was compounded in the 50th minute when Jay Dasilva’s fizzing cross into the area was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Regan Poole.

Adrian Segecic pulled one back for Portsmouth, but Coventry’s party was not spoiled, with Mason-Clark notching his brace 14 minutes from time with a shot into the roof of the net before Kaine Kesler-Hayden turned home at the back post.

WRAPPING THE TITLE UP IN STYLE. pic.twitter.com/ITMyoOT71b

— Coventry City (@Coventry_City) April 21, 2026

The race for automatic promotion also continued to sway one way, and another as Millwall made their way back into the top two following a 3-1 win over struggling Stoke City.

Camiel Neghli gave the Lions a 20th-minute lead before Femi Azeez doubled their advantage 10 minutes after the break when his shot squirmed through Gavin Bazunu’s grasp.

An own-goal from Caleb Taylor offered hope of a Stoke comeback, but Josh Coburn made sure of the win nine minutes later, making up for a glaring miss during the first half.

Southampton, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten league run to 17 matches, but saw their top-two hopes take a hit after they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Bristol City.

Ryan Manning’s early own-goal was cancelled out by Cyle Larin, only for Roy Hodgson’s side to retake the lead when Sam Bell finished past Daniel Peretz in the 63rd minute.

But substitute Ross Stewart came off the bench to ensure a share of the spoils, but the Saints are now three points adrift of second in fourth, with Ipswich Town one place above them and also boasting two games in hand.

Data Debrief: Leicester hit new low on home soil

Leicester’s dismal Championship campaign has finally come to an end, and though they showed some fight against Hull, it has been their performances, particularly at home, that have seen them drop to the third tier of English football.

Only already relegated Sheffield Wednesday have collected fewer points at home in the Championship in 2026 than the Foxes (seven – W2 D1 L7). Their seven defeats in their last nine are as many as in their previous 28 home matches in the second tier (W17 D5).

Leicester have now lost 30 points from winning positions in the league this season, more than any other team, and they will be left to rue a glut of missed chances, having registered an expected goals (xG) total of 3.06 from their 20 shots compared to Hull’s 1.46 from their 13 attempts.