Performance levels drop as Hull City fall to a 1-0 defeat against comfortable Coventry City

Hull City were disappointed once more as they slumped to their fourth successive defeat which heaped further pressure on the shoulders of manager Grant McCann.

Following on from Friday’s press conference, McCann remained adamant that he would be judged on performances. Still, he would have been desperately disappointed at one of City’s more lacklustre displays of the season.

Despite making four changes to the side that lost at Luton Town the previous weekend, neither a change in personnel or shape in the second period was enough to inspire the Tigers against a side that has laid the blueprint for newly promoted sides to the Championship.

Since surviving last season, Mark Robins’ side possesses newfound confidence that sees them sit fourth in the table. Based on yesterday’s performance, Coventry City’s one-touch passing and desire to get into the final third was a feature that certainly has them up there on merit.

The front three of Viktor Gyokeres, Matt Godden and Callum O’Hare were constantly dangerous for the visitors with their ability to break quickly on the counter-attack. Coventry played the type of slick passing football that Hull fans could only have been envious of as their side have only managed a solitary goal since returning from the last international break.

Having conceded early in recent games, City found themselves a goal down after only nine minutes. Following a probing run from Gyokeres, the Swedish striker was well tackled on the edge of the home penalty area, but inexplicably, no other City players reacted to the following passage of play.

As the ball broke loose from Jacob Greaves challenge, Josh Emmanuel put no pressure on the ball as Ian Maatsen swept the ball in for an unmarked Godden to head home unmarked from eight yards. 

Considering that Greaves had drifted over to the right-hand side to go with Gyokeres initially, it was a poor show from his teammates that nobody had followed Godden into the box to apply the finishing touch, despite claims from Callum Elder that he was offside.

The visitors should have added another shortly afterwards as they carved Hull open once more. Gyokeres and O’Hare linked up with some tidy passing on halfway before getting Godden through on goal, only for his effort to be touched wide by Matt Ingram in goal.

Despite McCann making four changes to the starting lineup, it was a familiar tale in terms of efforts on goal. Tom Eaves was preferred to lead the line ahead of Josh Magennis, but the big striker rarely troubled the back three of Coventry similarly to what happened against Middlesbrough a few weeks back.

With George Moncur and Andy Cannon added to the starting lineup, City struggled to support their frontman. There were often huge gaps between the attack and midfield, leaving Eaves an isolated figure, particularly in the first half.

When opportunities did come Eaves’ way, the striker wasn’t alert enough to make the most of the chances and was symptomatic of City’s problems in front of goal that now sees them as the lowest goalscorers in the division.

Despite a change of formation at half-time due to a facial injury to skipper Richie Smallwood, City struggled to apply any real sustained pressure on Coventry’s goal. Elder’s cut back across goal was met with a heavy touch from Josh Emmanuel, and Simon Moore dealt with Andy Cannon’s effort with relative ease.

Mallik Wilks had a couple of headed chances following balls into the box, but neither effort looked particularly convincing. He glanced his first effort wide from Jacob Greaves flick on, and although his second effort did require Moore to tip the ball over the bar, in truth, Wilks had headed the ball too far into the ground to cause a significant issue.

A last gasp free-kick from Elder was the last of City’s action in front of goal, but his dangerous in-swinging delivery wasn’t gambled on by any of teammates at the far post and provided further evidence that City’s confidence and belief are slowly shrinking game by game.

Although Hull had chances, they didn’t look convincing in front of goal, and it was Coventry that still looked the likelier of the two sides to grab the next goal. Gyokeres will feel disappointed that he hadn’t put the game to bed earlier in the half following another smart passing move, with the striker flashing his shot wide of the near post.

There were a chorus of boos at full-time, but despite the defeat, the calls for the managers head were not as vociferous as they had been against Peterborough United in their previous home game.

McCann was not shirking his side’s current plight but remained optimistic that his side can still turn things around given a number of critical injuries, a transfer embargo and a disrupted preseason.

“At this present time, the fans will be disappointed and I get that but we’ve got full belief in ourselves.

“We know we haven’t won enough games to this point, we’re staying calm.”

“People will criticise and that’s fair enough, but we’ve got to make sure we keep everything in house and stay calm.”

His opposing number, Mark Robins, offered some empathy in his post-match assessment to McCann’s current predicament. A manager who only knows too well about making the step up from League One and into the Championship, the Coventry manager was well aware of the patience required with players still finding their feet.

“The levels are totally different. It takes time to acclimatize. They’ve got good players and in Keane Lewis-Potter, they have somebody who has the makings to be a top player.”

The worry for City is the inevitability that confidence and belief will continue to wane whilst they remain in this slump. Looking toothless up top and conceding poor goals early in games is making their challenge just that extra bit harder.

With the news that the club are now in a period of exclusivity with potential new ownership, the uncertainty behind the scenes will be another issue to navigate.

There is no hiding place at the foot of the Championship table, and it is going to be a big test of the group to dig deep and turn the situation around starting at West Brom on Wednesday evening.

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