Millar's late counter sucker-punches Coventry as Hull make it two wins from two

Substitute Liam Millar scored his first Premier League goal to hand Hull a 1-0 victory at Coventry on Saturday, extending the newly promoted club’s perfect top-flight start to two wins from two. Millar slotted home to cap a swift counter-attack with eight minutes remaining, punishing a Coventry side that had dominated possession for long periods without creating enough clear-cut chances.

The result follows Hull’s opening-day win over Manchester United and continues what manager Sergej Jakirovic has described as a dream start to Premier League life. It was also a historic occasion at the CBS Arena — the first Premier League fixture staged at the ground, and the first top-flight meeting between the two clubs — though the hosts will remember it only for what slipped away.

Coventry, promoted as Championship champions, were the brighter side throughout and kept Hull pinned back for much of the first half. Their best opportunity came almost by accident shortly before the break, when Loum Tchaouna’s cross was deflected by Nobel Mendy and struck Taiwo Awoniyi at the back post, forcing goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis into a smart low save. Had Awoniyi made intentional contact, the result might have been different.

Mendy, one of Hull’s goalscoring heroes against United the previous weekend, went closest for the visitors in the first half with a vicious half-volley from distance, and he threatened again five minutes into the second period with a 30-yard strike that Carl Rushworth needed two attempts to gather.

As Coventry pushed forward in search of a breakthrough, they left themselves increasingly exposed on the break. There was a warning when Oli McBurnie released Millar in behind, only for the Canadian winger to pull his shot wide. Coventry did not adjust, and barely five minutes later Mohamed Belloumi won possession from Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and found Millar’s run again — this time the finish was clinical.

Jay Dasilva had a late headed chance to equalise for the hosts as the game moved into stoppage time, but it was Coventry’s first attempt on target in the second half, and it came too late to salvage anything from a game they had largely controlled.