Hull City's dire run continued as Matt Godden scored the only goal of the game at the MKM Stadium to give Coventry City a well deserved win away from home. Godden headed in after nine minutes and in truth never really looked like conceding against a Hull City side that are struggling to stick the ball in the back of the net this season.

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  • Story of the match

First half

After the playing of The Last Post and a minute's silence, Coventry City started the game as though they meant business. They had the majority of the ball and forced a corner in the opening three minutes, but good work from Tom Eaves saw the Tigers get the ball away to safety. 

Keane Lewis-Potter almost forced a mistake from goalkeeper Simon Moore on five minutes, but the Sky Blues keeper got fortunate with the rebound which when straight to his defender. The home side did not look comfortable on the ball however, and Mark Robins' side went ahead on eight minutes when Matt Godden stooped low to head in past the dive of Matt Ingram and into the back of the net. He did look to be a touch offside, but the assistant's flag did not come to the Tigers' rescue.

The Tigers were cut open easily again on 13 minutes and it took a one-on-one save from Ingram to deny Godden his second. The boos that rung around the MKM Stadium showed just how frustrated the home crowd were. Andy Cannon battled in midfield and won a free kick on 17 minutes, but Jacob Greaves just couldn't control the ball in from Callum Elder.

The home side forced their first corner on 22 minutes, but Di'Shon Bernard's header didn't trouble Moore too much. Coventry then went up the other end with ease and Greaves blocked Fankaty Dabo's cross for a Sky Blues corner. This was cleared easily, but Greaves then had to block Dabo's shot soon after with his chest as the away side looked the most likely to add to the score sheet.

A blistering run from Lewis-Potter saw the ball bounce towards Eaves on 26 minutes, but it just wouldn't drop for the striker and the chance was gone. Andy Cannon felt he should have had a free kick for a trip soon after, but in truth it looked like he just tripped over his own feet. Viktor Gyokeres stung Ingram's palms from the edge of the area as Robins' side showed how dangerous they can be with two up front.

Hull worked the ball well from side to side and Eaves had a shot that was well stopped by Moore, but the flag was already up on the far side and the chance wouldn't have counted. Ingram very nearly gifted the away side a goal taking too much time on a back pass, but cleared his lines in the end. Hull then had a fair shout for handball that was waved away by the official. 

Greaves did extremely well to hold off Godden on a counter attack, with the away fans screaming for a foul. Hull played the ball round from side to side well, but looked woefully short on confidence that was summarized by George Moncur's tame effort from the edge of the area with five minutes to go before the break. Lewis-Potter did the same from a similar range just a minute later as Hull really didn't look like scoring at all.

An injury to Richie Smallwood prolonged the half time whistle, but when it did come, the inevitable boos rang out again with City way under par.

Second half

As the second half kicked off, the Tigers made a change - on came Shaun McLoughlin for Smallwood as it seemed City switched to three at the back. Coventry were still pushing for a second however, and they won a corner two minutes into the half. Kyle McFadzean's header was well off target, though.

It was Lewis-Potter and Eaves that were now leading the line up top, and the latter went into the book for a poorly timed challenge on the edge of his own area on 52 minutes, and Gustavo Hamer tried his luck from 25 yards but cleared the bar with his effort.

Good work from Elder saw the ball flash across the box, but Emmanuel just couldn't get his feet right. Lewis-Potter was then slammed to the ground after beating the defender and won a free kick, but Elder's delivery was cleared easily. Gyokeres should have scored soon after but flashed his shot wide after a goalmouth scramble.

Hull won a corner just before the hour mark, but again the set piece came to nothing. Gyokeres flashed a cross across goal but there were no Coventry players anywhere near the ball to threaten the Tigers defense. 

Grant McCann swapped Eaves for Josh Magennis, and Moncur for Mallik Wilks in what appeared to be the last throw of the dice for the home side. Lewis-Potter's ball in behind found Wilks on 68 minutes who was wrestled to the ground by McFadzean, who somehow escaped a caution for his efforts. Docherty's effort from range just whisked wide, and it looked like another frustrating home game for the Tigers.

Jamie Allen should have scored with 15 minutes left, but blazed his effort over the bar. Bernard's foray up the pitch saw Lewis-Potter's shot blocked, and then Cannon's follow up was well held by Moore as time started to run out for the home side. Wilks did well to hold off his man and then seemed to be brought down but play continued, with McCann furious at the fourth official. Good work from Greg Docherty won the Tigers a corner with five to go, but yet again Coventry cleared their lines easily.

Quite how Ian Maatsen avoided a booking for dragging back Emmanuel with two minutes to go is anyone's guess, but the resulting free kick saw a bouncing effort tipped over the bar by Moore. The whistle then went for a free kick to Coventry and the Hull City fans started to file out of the MKM Stadium.

Josh Emmanuel was tripped on the edge of the box in stoppage time which gave the home side one last chance. However, Elder's delivery wasn't up to standard as the ball curled out of reach of the players and past the far post. Coventry held on for a deserved win and the pressure continues to mount on Hull manager Grant McCann.

  • Takeaways from the match

Hull City fail to score yet again

It wasn't for the lack of trying, but the Tigers look bereft of confidence in the final third of the pitch. It seems to be the same every week in that their possession stats and build up play give them every chance of getting something out of the game, but they just do not have the quality where it matters up front. Even McCann shifting to a two up front in the second half had no real influence on the game, and City fans will be wondering when their rotten run will come to an end.

Coventry continue impressive start

However bad Hull City were, Coventry were good value for their win. They looked dangerous in the first half and could have had two or three, and they defended well in the second half when Hull tried to turn up the heat when they went 3-5-2. Mark Robins had his name chanted loudly by the 2,000 or so Sky Blues fans who made a hell of a noise throughout the game, and Tigers fans will have been looking enviously at their opponents today wishing their fortunes could be reversed.

  • Stand-out players

The entire Coventry team played well, but Matt Godden was almost unplayable in the first half. He took his goal well as it was a difficult header, and ran his blood into water throughout the second half without much reward. Not many Hull City players would admit to having their best game today, but Matt Ingram produced a couple of very good stops to keep the game close and Andy Cannon was always looking for the ball and trying to make things happen in midfield.

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