Hibs finally get one over United

The only goal of the game came just three minutes in when Harvey White latched on to a ball over top and drilled it past the United keeper.

Hibs should have extended their lead in the 15th minute but Ryan Macbeth poked the ball wide as the home keeper rushed off his line.

Ollie Manuel dealt comfortably with a couple of Coventry efforts on goal, while at the other end Hibs were denied a second when Michael Yeates’ header was brilliantly cleared off the line by a covering defender with the keeper beaten.

Hibs came under more pressure after the break but restricted their hosts to half-chances and Nathan Neale had a great chance to put the game out of sight, only to shoot straight at the keeper after great approach work from White and Macbeth.

United’s clearest sight of goal came from a free header which was directed straight at Manuel, while Hibs were denied a second when new signing Adam Trinder rattled the crossbar with a thumping header.

United ran out of ideas long before the final whistle and player-coach Rich Kay said the clean sheet was testament to his side’s outstanding workrate.

“We thoroughly deserved the three points as we outworked them all afternoon and created a number of excellent chances,” said Kay.

“We won every 50-50 and took the game to them right from the first whistle.

“We totally dominated the first half and should have been more than 1-0 up.

“Second half we had to withstand some pressure but again on the counter attack we looked the more dangerous side.

“They created very little all game due to our outstanding workrate all over the pitch and the lads’ discipline to stick to the game plan we had worked on all week.

“We pressed them hard and got the ball in to our front lads quickly which caused them no end of problems.

“We could and should have scored more, but to win at a local rival in front of a decent home crowd speaks volumes.”

The victory moved Hibs up to sixth but Kay is hoping his side’s promotion assault can remain under the radar.

“There were more fancied teams than ourselves at the start of the season to gain promotion, so from now until the end of the season we can have a right go whilst other teams will be under massive pressure.”