ÓSCAR Estupiñán scored a hat-trick to ensure Coventry City remain winless in the league this season after they suffered a 3-2 defeat away at Hull City.
Matty Godden struck twice for the Sky Blues only for the division’s top scorer Estupiñán to net a treble which leaves City rooted to the foot of the Championship table.
Coventry have picked up just one point from their opening three matches with three games in hand on most of the teams above them.
Hull opened the scoring on 11 minutes when Sky Blues goalkeeper Simon Moore could only divert Lewie Coyle’s driven cross from the right onto the head of Estupiñán who was waiting to pounce at the back post.
However, City found a way back into the game on 29 minutes when Kasey Palmer was fouled in the box and Godden converted the resulting penalty into the left corner sending Hull keeper Matt Ingram the wrong way.
The home side restored their lead before the break with another soft goal on 42 minutes as Moore spilled Coyle’s cross from the right onto the leg of Estupiñán who again found himself in the right place at the right time.
Hull looked to extend their lead early in the second period when Alfie Jones headed over on the stretch from Andy Cannon’s cross.
And Estupiñán completed his hat-trick soon after with another scrappy goal on 56 minutes as he turned the ball home from close range after Callum Elder miscontrolled Coyle’s cross into his path.
City thought they had reduced the deficit only for Ingram to make a superb save to prevent Jake Bidwell’s effort from crossing the line.
And the Sky Blues eventually did pull a goal back when Godden nodded in at the back post on 69 minutes after Michael Rose’s near post header was saved into his path by Ingram.
The hosts could have wrapped the game up late on only for substitute Ryan Longman to shoot wide when one-on-one with Moore as the Sky Blues left the MKM Stadium empty-handed.
Coventry are next in action at home to Preston North End on Wednesday, August 31 with kick-off at 7.45pm at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
