Aston Villa remain without a victory in the 2026-27 season after playing out a goalless draw with Hull City on Saturday, but the newly promoted Tigers have emerged as the real story of the opening weeks. With seven points from their first three matches, three consecutive clean sheets, and a position just two points adrift of early leaders Manchester City, Hull City have provided their supporters with genuine cause for optimism about their Premier League survival prospects.
Head coach Sergej Jakirovic acknowledged the remarkable nature of his side's start when speaking after the match, though he was careful to temper expectations.
"Maybe expect to fight for a Champions League place?"he said with a smile before quickly adding that three games represents far too small a sample to draw firm conclusions about a club's season-long trajectory.
Yet the historical record offers Hull genuine encouragement. No newly promoted side has ever been relegated after accumulating seven or more points from their opening three Premier League matches. Among all teams in the division, only three have gone down after reaching that threshold—a statistic that suggests Jakirovic's squad has already taken a significant step toward their primary objective of maintaining top-flight status.
From League One brink to Premier League contenders
The transformation has been striking. Just 16 months ago, Hull avoided demotion to League One only on goal difference, facing an uncertain future under severe financial constraints. The club operated under a transfer embargo that restricted them to free transfers and loan signings, yet Jakirovic still managed to make them promotion contenders.
The turning point came when Hull shocked Manchester United with a 2-0 victory in their Premier League return on 22 August 2026, with Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy finding the net to silence predictions the Tigers would finish bottom of the division. That opening-day triumph set the tone for what followed. Jakirovic guided the club through the play-offs, orchestrating a remarkable victory against Millwall—a side that had finished three places and 10 points above them in the regular season—before Oli McBurnie's last-gasp winner against Middlesbrough secured promotion.
The summer rebuild proved equally ambitious. Hull became the busiest Premier League club in the transfer market, bringing in 18 new signings for approximately £150 million. Among them was midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, who arrived from Everton for £22 million on deadline day. The influx of talent represented a dramatic shift from the previous season's constraints.
Jakirovic himself has committed his future to the project. He signed a two-year contract extension on Friday, and according to reports on 3 September, the Croatian manager indicated he was close to agreeing a new long-term deal. A Croatian outlet subsequently reported on 4 September that Jakirovic had agreed a new Hull contract that could keep him at the club until 2029 if an option is triggered.
How have Hull's defences been so impenetrable?
The standout feature of Hull's opening three matches has been their defensive solidity. They have conceded no goals across their first three league games—a feat matched in the Premier League era only by Charlton Athletic in 1998-99 and Huddersfield Town in 2017-18 following their respective promotions.
Defender John Egan, part of the three-man defensive unit alongside Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy, attributed the success to meticulous preparation and collective commitment.
"The work goes into it on the training pitch,"he explained.
"It probably started in the play-offs when we moved to that shape. We have a lot of experience and it all helps. We've got a lot of lads who want to work together, defend for each other, and so far, so good. We just have to keep improving."
Hull's defensive approach has been complemented by their willingness to operate with minimal possession. No team in the Premier League this season has had less of the ball than Hull, who averaged just 29 percent. Since 2003-04, only West Ham in 2023-24, with 27 percent, have operated with a lower possession figure across their opening three matches.
What lies ahead for Hull?
Jakirovic has set a clear target for his squad.
"Our goal is to collect the points. I think around 38-40 points, so as soon as possible to get these points."That benchmark reflects the widely accepted threshold for Premier League survival, and Hull's current trajectory suggests they are on pace to reach it.
Hull's next competitive fixture is a Carabao Cup tie away at Sunderland on Tuesday 8 September 2026. Their Premier League schedule then intensifies considerably. According to fixture lists, Hull face Chelsea away on Saturday 12 September 2026, followed by Newcastle away later that month. These matches against elite opposition will provide a genuine test of whether their early-season form represents genuine progress or a temporary honeymoon period.
The contrast with fellow promoted sides has been stark. Coventry City, who won the Championship last season, remain without a point after three matches. Historically, only Southampton in 2012-13 have survived after failing to register a point from their opening three games—a sobering statistic for the Sky Blues.
Yet Jakirovic remains acutely aware of the pitfalls ahead. Three teams—Wolves in 2011-12, West Brom in 2017-18, and Leeds United in 2022-23—were relegated despite collecting seven points from their opening three matches. That represents only 4 percent of the 78 teams to have reached that milestone and subsequently gone down, but it underscores that early success offers no guarantees.
For now, Hull can take satisfaction from their platform. They have beaten Manchester United and fellow promoted side Coventry City, held Europa League winners Aston Villa, and given themselves genuine hope of remaining in the Premier League for seasons to come.
