Coventry City 0 Hull City 1: Liam Millar takes his second chance to make it six points out of six for Tigers

When the Canadian substitute went clean through in the 80th minute only to put his chance wide, it looked as if for the third game in a row, Hull and Coventry City were destined to finish 0-0 – a good result for the visiting Tigers.

But when Mohamed Belloumi played him through two minutes later, Millar more than made up for his mistake.

Within no time he was parading in front of away fans who had been cursing him ealrier.

"We're gonna win the league," sang supporters who have seen their team make a 100 per cent to life back in the top division when so many pundits were telling them they would struggle to beat Derby County's record low points total. Eight days in, they are already halfway there.

But the 1-0 victory was down to more than just Millar's finish – goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis played a big hand too. He will have to plenty of times this season, but there is nothing to be ashamed of in that.

This is not a Tigers team arrogant enough to think they can survive relegation playing any way they choose. Just as they were in last season's Championship, they know they will have to suck up pressure and be patient without the ball. However well you do that playing in the best domestic league in Europe, you will need your goalkeeper to make big saves from time to time.

The Greek was only really called upon to make one, but did it brilliantly to deny Taiwo Awoniyi.

Coventry had more possession, more shots, more shots on target, and Hull won. It is a familiar tale.

As you might expect from a club playing Premier League football at home for the first time in a quarter of a century and in front of a crowd who reflected that even in the soggy conditions, Coventry made the early running.

Former Huddersfield Town midfielder Jack Rudoni is their playmaker and was mainly looking to thread passes down the right-hand side of Hull's back three across the wet grass.

With Lewie Coyle booked in the tenth minute for a foul on Ephraim Mason-Clark, and carrying a knock soon after, it was an obvious area to try to exploit. The captain made way at the break.

Rudoni went the other way in the sixth minute, only for Loum Tchouna to shoot over. A minute later he had a short charged down by Hidemasa Morita, making his Premier League debut in the only change from the 2-0 victory over Manchester United.

But Hull stayed patient, safe in the knowledge that for all their possession, the Sky Blues were not working Tzolakis.

Finally, in the 21st minute, they had a shot of their own, Morita's persistence winning the ball high up, only for Elliot Stroud to put his shot wide.

A minute later came the first of only two efforts on target all half, weakly headed at Tzolakis by Awoniyi.

The forward seemed surprised when a 35th-minute cross came to him, and failed to make a clean contact.

Mason-Clark reacted rather better when Mendy's flick of the head presented him with a chance at an awkward height. He thrust a thigh at it from close range and Tzolakis' reaction save was outstanding.

Helped by a double substitution, Hull were much more on the front foot at the start of the second half, with Nobel Mendy's long-range effort in the 50th minute forcing a good save from Halifax-born Carl Rushworth, whose star has really risen since an loan in East Yorkshire hampered by injury in the first half of 2024-25.

Coventry still posed a threat themselves, Tchouna putting in a very dangerous ball Semi Ajayi did well to clear in the winger's last act of note before being substituted. Mendy was soon off too, to his very obvious disgust.

Hull's big chance came in the 74th minute, Oli McBurnie releasing Millar through on goal. The winger made space for a shot, ignoring the option of rolling the ball to Belloumi, but dragged his shot wide.

Ryan Giles' name was sung throughout by away fans anxious not to see their left-back sold to Burnley in the last days of the transfer window, and he made their next good chance a couple of minutes later. Maybe his cross was not quite as acute as he might have liked, and running onto the ball, Belloumi found the angle too tight to hit the target, never mind score.

But he was soon setting up the winner, playing a lovely ball to release Millar after a Coventry cross on their left was smothered. With plenty of time to think about where he went wrong the last time, Millar picked his spot brilliantly.

Tzolakis was needed again in stoppage time and whilst it would be insulting to a goalkeeper of his quality to make too much of his save from Jay DaSilva's header, holding onto it in the wet conditions was important.

Hull have momentum and a goalkeeper they can rely on. They will be counting the hours until Aston Villa visit East Yorkshire.

Coventry City: Rushworth; van Ewijk, Thomas (Pinnock 78), Amenda, DaSilva; Yirenkyi (Torp 71), Grimes; Tchaouna (Sakamoto 59), Rudoni (Hamer 71), Awoniyi; Mason-Clark (Thomas-Asante 59).

Unused substitutes: Simms, Kitching, Latibeaudiere, Bentley.

Hull City: Tzolakis; Ajayi, Egan, Mendy (Herrington 60); Coyle (Drameh HT), Slater, Morita (Gourna HT), Giles; Belloumi (Cho 83), McBurnie, Stroud (Millar 60).

Unused substitutes: Phillips, Hjerto-Dahl, McNair, Targett.

Referee: J Smith (Lincolnshire).