Hull City defy early expectations by doing the simple things correctly

The obituaries were in full swing for Hull City before a ball was even kicked in the 2026/27 Premier League season. In fact, such was the majority that some went as far as having Hull to even break Derby County’s record of having the fewest points in a PL season. 

As things stand, Hull City have been defying expectations in stunning fashion. An unbeaten start to the season has seen them climb to 4th place in the early stages of the points table. The fact that this start has come after beating sides like Manchester United and drawing against Chelsea makes this all the more sweeter for the Tigers.

So how have Hull City managed to coax out such a great start to their season?

For this, you will have to rewind back two seasons, when Hull were facing relegation in the face. Hull needed a win on the final day of the season to stay safe. And while they managed a draw, other results going in their favour meant that they stayed up on goal difference. 

And while they secured promotion to the Premier League next season, they were comfortably the poorest side in the top-6 both because of their inability to score goals while conceding goals for fun. So the predictions surrounding Hull had numerical and logical backing.

However, Hull have exceeded expectations by keeping things simple and doing those simple things to perfection. Under head coach Sergej Jakirovic, Hull play with an identity that has been pretty much the same as last season, which begins from the players in the side.

Despite a summer outlay by club owner Acun Ilicali that saw the club sign 18 players, spending £150m in the process, the club has not lost faith on the core group of players that have brought them to the Premier League in the first place. The biggest example was in the game against Chelsea, where 8 of the starting 11 were from last season’s side

They do not have a problem when they do not have the ball. In fact, they are more than happy to concede the ball to their opponents for large swathes of the game. Their 29.6% possession in the league is comfortably the lowest in the league so far. But it does not bother Hull one bit because they are used to this way of playing. They are just utilizing a much more extreme version of the same style that is suiting them in the Premier League.

This continuity is also a very prevalent fixture in the way they attack as a team as well. The focus is on direct and vertical football with big Ollie McBurnie the focal point of their attacks with this excellent hold-up play, that allows the midfielders to attack and win those second balls. The ball is then funnelled to their wing-backs, who are not only willing runners that help stretch the field of play, but also capable of whipping crosses into the box.

Jakirovic and his continuity have been excellent for Hull. They have kept 3 clean sheets in 4 games, and their 5-4-1 formation has been a constant since the first game, giving them the best chance to achieve the desired outcomes in the games. 

While this has indeed been a very good start for Hull, everyone involved with the club knows that there is still a long way to go. Hull have had good starts to seasons in the Premier League before as well. They were 3rd in 2008-09 after 9 games played, but avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth, surviving by just 1 point. In 2016/17, they started well again, only to get relegated.

So while the job is not finished, Hull know that they have the springboard from which they can jump to a better position in the league and not just survive. For now, they can take pride in the start that they have had, exceeding expectations and going about their business in their own merry way.