Coventry City defeat highlights major Hull City worries as Tigers fall further adrift

Hull City's dismal season continued on Saturday after seeing a one-goal lead at half-time turn into a 2-1 defeat at Coventry City, who eased away from the drop zone and piled more misery on the hapless Tigers.

Joao Pedro's clever finish just before the break was firmly against the run of play, but just like on Wednesday against Watford, their inability to stop their opposition from scoring didn't make the ten minute mark and once the hosts leveled, you felt the inevitable would happen.

Even an Ivor Pandur penalty save at 1-1 didn't halt Coventry's momentum and once Jack Rudoni headed in from close range with 18 minutes to go, the inevitable followed.

READ MORE: Ruben Selles explains Hull City changes during disappointing Coventry City loss

READ MORE: 'Frustrated' Ruben Selles pulls no punches after Hull City's defeat at Coventry City

Here, City reporter Barry Cooper looks back on defeat number seven in the Tigers' last eight games....

Another game, another defeat

This was a defeat few could have too many complaints about, in truth. Coventry were much the better side throughout, and though City look better in the second period, their inability to defend the flanks was a constant problem. Both Ryan Giles and Lewie Coyle had really poor games, and it was costly. In fairness to Coyle, he's usually Mr Consistent, and it's unfortunate that his off-day proved quite so costly. What doesn't help their full-backs is the lack of support from further up the pitch, and it often leaves them exposed.

Throughout the team, City are making poor decisions with and without the ball. Selles has a big job on, he knows that, and if he's to turn this ship around, he's going to need to see his players start to think smarter in the key moments.

Hold on to the lead

While they were awful in the first half, City battled hard to get in front and give themselves something to hold onto, but just as was the case on Wednesday, they couldn't hold the lead for ten minutes. When you go a goal up in any game, especially away from home, you've got to ride it out, do the ugly stuff and make it tough for the opposition. That didn't happen here, and the goals were really poor, yet again. It's a recurring theme.

The successful teams, when they've not played well and get in front, find a way to battle and get something from the game, and that's something Selles will be looking to work on because they've led in the last two games, but have taken just one point.

Missing the governor

Jean Michael Seri would have been wasted under the former manager, and that's why he was moved on in the summer, but under Selles, the experienced Ivorian would have been perfect.

City have absolutely no control in midfield, they turn it over too regularly and allow their opposition to break on their back four with too much ease, and Seri has the ability to stop that, and give them a bit more control in the engine room.

Selles will hope Xavier Simons returns quickly from injury because he has promise, but based on what we've seen so far this season, it's no surprise to see the Tigers aim to sign a number six in January.

What a stark contrast

City were at the CBS Arena in late April, winning a thrilling game 3-2 to keep themselves firmly in the play-off race and go a long way to ending Coventry's own top six hopes, and this felt a long, long way from that Spring evening.

If there was big positivity about what was to come in April, there must be fear a few months on given the manner of the display from City, who looked like a team bottom of the table. They looked a long way short of the quality needed to get out of trouble, and while the scoreline suggests the game was close, it really wasn't. Coventry dominated and were worthy winners.

Selles has a big job on his hands if he's to turn this around and he'll believe that he can, but he'll need to see an awful lot more from those players because that just was not good enough.

A crucial clear week

After two games in the space of a few days after taking over, Selles will be thankful for a relatively quiet week on the training pitch now, and a first chance to really make his mark, and boy will he need it on Saturday because that has become an even bigger game than it was.

It's been a manic opening week for the Spaniard, having been thrust into the relentless nature of the Championship, but now, he'll have a little more time to talk to his players, make an impact on the training pitch and implement more of his ideas.

He'll also be able to have meetings with players and staff, things he's simply not had the time to do in the frantic opening few days, and that, at this juncture in his tenure, will be absolutely invaluable as he prepares for next Saturday's home meeting with Swansea City, the final outing before Christmas, and last one at home in 2024.