Hull City have proved they belong, but eight games without a win is a warning

Hull City have shown they can compete in the Premier League. Turning that into wins is becoming the problem. After winning their opening two matches, Sergej Jakirović’s side have gone eight without another victory, taking five points from the 24 available.

They have 11 points from ten games, with two wins, five draws and three defeats. None of those defeats has been by more than one goal, but three of the draws came after Hull had been ahead.

Hull City’s Premier League start: the big wins

Hull only just made it to the top flight. They finished sixth in the Championship and were promoted through the play-offs after Southampton’s removal, with Oli McBurnie’s 95th-minute winner against Middlesbrough at Wembley sealing it.

They then beat Manchester United 2-0 on the opening weekend. Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy both scored from Regan Slater set pieces, and Ajayi was named man of the match.

A week later, substitute Liam Millar scored eight minutes from time to win 1-0 at Coventry. That made it six points from two games, and the Coventry 0-1 Hull match details still read like a dream start. It is also the last time Hull have won.

Narrow defeats, but defeats all the same

The first loss came at St James’ Park in September. Newcastle were 2-0 up inside seven minutes, and Mohamed-Ali Cho’s goal in the second half wasn’t enough to rescue anything.

Fulham was the low point. Hull lost 1-0 at Craven Cottage and failed to register a single shot on target.

Arsenal also won by a single goal, with Martin Odegaard scoring after Kostas Tzolakis had kept them out for more than an hour. Our Arsenal 1-0 Hull match report covers that game, and the Havertz offside debate covers its biggest talking point.

Losing only narrowly to Newcastle and Arsenal suggests Hull can live at this level. Losing at Fulham without troubling the goalkeeper is the kind of performance they cannot afford.

Leads that slipped away

The home form explains both the encouragement and the frustration. Hull remain unbeaten at the MKM Stadium, but that record is built mostly on draws.

Against Everton, Joe Gelhardt put Hull ahead early in the second half. Two Hull errors then let Everton go 2-1 up before Hull fought back for a point. Jakirović said afterwards that his side had shown character to recover.

Against Brentford, McBurnie scored a penalty after Tim Iroegbunam was brought down by Aaron Hickey, but Dango Ouattara equalised.

Ipswich was the clearest example. Hull were booed off at half-time while 1-0 down. Against Ipswich, Jakirović changed his defensive shape at half-time, introducing Matt Crooks for John Egan. Iroegbunam ran through from halfway to equalise, and McBurnie’s free-kick made it 2-1 on 68 minutes. Hull’s lead lasted six minutes before Julio Enciso equalised on 74.

The draw meant seven games without a win, as Sky Sports reported. The defeat at the Emirates made it eight. Jakirović said afterwards that his team needs better control when they are ahead.

The squad and the system

Some of the summer arrivals have quickly become important. Tzolakis has made key saves, most notably in the narrow defeat at Arsenal, and Egan has brought top-flight experience to the back line. Ajayi has been a threat at both ends.

Jakirović has often set up with a back five, which makes Hull hard to break down. The trade-off is that McBurnie can be left isolated, and Hull have spent long spells without the ball.

James Chettle’s verdict

Eleven points from ten games is a respectable return for the side who came up through the play-offs. Hull have beaten Manchester United, kept their home record intact and haven’t been thrashed by anyone.

But the leads lost against Everton, Brentford and Ipswich have cost them as many as six points. That is the difference between a cushion above the bottom three and a nervous winter.

After the international break, Hull return to Selhurst Park on 28 November. Their last Premier League away game before this season was a 4-0 defeat there in May 2017, the result that relegated them.

Hull have given themselves a platform to stay up. But narrow defeats and encouraging draws will only take them so far. Turning competitive performances into wins is now the test.