Creativity needed in a solid start

DEFENSIVE RESILIENCE A PLUS POINT

- By BARRY COOPER

A committed, battling display from Hull City earned the Tigers a deserved draw at Coventry City on Saturday as attention finally turned to matters on the field.

After yet another summer of change and chaos off the pitch, Sergej Jakirovic's team produced an encouraging display to keep one of the Championship's promotion favourites at bay and get off the mark with a point.

Jakirovic named a flurry of new signings in his squad, with Semi Ajayi and Joel Ndala starting, while Oliver McBurnie and Joe Gelhardt came off the bench in the second period. There was also a long-awaited senior debut for Nathan Tinsdale.

Here, the Mail takes a look back at a fascinating opening day in the Midlands....

A solid start

There are fewer tougher assignments in the Championship at the best of times these days, than going to play Coventry City in front of a big home crowd.

Gone are the days when the Sky Blues were playing in a half-empty stadium with a pitch that resembled a potato field. The current incarnation are an attractive, positive and well-organised side. They've also been together and stable for a period of time under a manager who knows the league.

The Tigers are coming out of another turbulent period which has seen a change in manager and another massive turnover of players over the course of the summer, so both clubs, and teams, are at very different stages.