Coventry 1-0 Southend: Hiwula nets in narrow triumph for Sky Blues

Jordy Hiwula's second half strike gave Coventry their first back-to-back League One wins since October as they beat Southend 1-0 to end the year on a high.

The Sky Blues upped the intensity in the second period and were rewarded for their efforts as Hiwula chalked up his fifth goal of the season.

Coventry had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Kevin Johnson six minutes in as Conor Chaplin's strike looked to have hit the hand of Southend full-back Elvis Bwomono.

Brave defending from Jordan Willis prevented John White from giving Southend the lead 20 minutes in, as the Sky Blues defender did enough to ensure White could not get his header on target.

A well worked free-kick routine found Chaplin unmarked at the back post, but the striker squandered his volley into the stands.

Coventry started the second half brilliantly and their patient build-up play sliced open the Southend defence as Tom Bayliss slipped Hiwula through on goal and the forward made no mistake as he calmly slotted past Nathan Bishop.