Ajayi gets one over Awoniyi in compatriots’ clash

Hull City edged out Coventry City 1-0 at the CBS Arena, a result in which Semi Ajayi and his defensive colleagues came out on top of Taiwo Awoniyi in the two Nigerian internationals’ personal battle, while Frank Onyeka was ruled out through a knock.

Liam Millar’s late strike ensured Hull maintained their perfect start on their return to the Premier League. It proved a cruel outcome for Frank Lampard’s Coventry, who showed plenty of endeavour and were largely on top during a contest that generally lacked attacking quality, until Canadian winger Millar was played through by Mohamed Belloumi in the 82nd minute and fired a decisive finish past home goalkeeper Carl Rushworth.

Until that point, Awoniyi, a summer signing from Nottingham Forest, had gone closest to breaking the deadlock for the Sky Blues, but his close-range first-half effort was palmed away by Konstantinos Tzolakis in the visitors’ goal.

Having shocked Manchester United on the opening weekend, this may feel like an even more important result for Sergej Jakirovic’s side, who are now six points clear of opponents many had tipped to join them in a potential relegation fight. Whether that battle still materialises for the Tigers, given their perfect start to the new campaign, remains to be seen.

While Hull are one of only three clubs to have suffered relegation from the Premier League after winning their opening two matches, a fate that last befell a side in the 2016/17 season, they now sit level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table. They are also likely to head into next weekend’s visit of Aston Villa to the MKM Stadium brimming with confidence.

Coventry’s afternoon, by contrast, offered something of a reality check. Defender Ethan Pinnock was the latest addition to arrive at the club earlier in the week, part of a recruitment drive that has now amounted to more than £100m spent on ten players. On this evidence, further investment may still be required, particularly in the final third, if this season is to be more than a brief return to the top flight after a 25-year absence.

The hosts huffed and puffed throughout, and although Awoniyi led the attacking line industriously, they rarely threatened to break down a well-organised Hull defence. Only three of their 11 attempts on goal found the target, and the best of those, from Awoniyi himself, lacked real power, the ball deflecting goalward off the Nigerian international’s thigh rather than through any clean strike. In the closing stages, Coventry also showed vulnerability at the back as they pushed in search of a first win in the division since April 2001.

Having failed to heed an earlier warning, when Millar dragged a similar chance wide instead of squaring for Belloumi, the hosts paid the price when the roles were reversed, and the Algerian winger picked out the pass that mattered.