Aston Villa still winless after stalemate at Hull
"Maybe expect to fight for a Champions League place?"
Sergej Jakirovic could not resist a joke when asked about Hull City's remarkable start to life back in the Premier League on BBC Match of the Day.
"No, of course it is early," the head coach was quick to follow up.
Three games into a season is indeed too small a sample size to predict a club's fortunes.
But with seven points from a possible nine, three clean sheets and only two points behind early pacesetters Manchester City, the Hull supporters can be forgiven for dreaming a little.
"It's huge for our confidence coming up into the Premier League," defender John Egan told Sky Sports.
"The start is important. We got the win the first day [against Manchester United] and I think that gave everyone confidence."
If history is anything to go by, the Tigers may already have gone a long way towards securing their most important objective of the 2025-26 season – preserving their top-flight status.
No newly promoted side has been relegated after taking seven or more points from their opening three Premier League games. Looking beyond promoted sides, only three teams have gone down after doing so.
It might be far too early to settle any survival talks but, following another impressive outing in a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday, there is no doubting Hull have given themselves the perfect platform to build on.
As recently as last year Hull avoided relegation to League One only on goal difference.
Fast-forward 16 months and they are now going toe to toe with the big names of the Premier League.
The turnaround can be traced back to the arrival of Jakirovic before last season.
The former Bosnia international joined a club under a transfer embargo, confining them to free transfers and loans, but still made them promotion contenders.
