Sergej Jakirovic praised Hull City’s character after the newly promoted side secured a thrilling 2-2 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, extending their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
Hull arrived in west London with three clean sheets from their opening three league matches, but they faced their biggest test yet against a Chelsea side packed with attacking quality.
The Tigers were quickly forced to respond after Morgan Rogers put Chelsea ahead, but Mohamed Belloumi turned the game on its head with two goals before half-time.
Chelsea eventually found a way back through João Pedro, who levelled after the break, but Hull refused to collapse under sustained pressure and even threatened to steal all three points late on.
For Jakirovic, the performance represented another major step forward for a team that only returned to the Premier League this season.
"“It’s a huge result for us.”"
The Croatian manager had already warned before kick-off that Chelsea's individual quality would make the contest extremely difficult. He stressed the importance of Hull defending collectively rather than attempting to contain Chelsea's attackers through individual battles.
That approach was evident at Stamford Bridge, with Hull remaining organised despite Chelsea enjoying long spells of possession.
The visitors also showed considerable attacking threat, with Belloumi proving particularly dangerous and coming close to completing a hat-trick before the final whistle.
Hull refuse to be overwhelmed
The result is particularly significant given the context of Hull's return to the top flight.
Jakirovic's side began the campaign with a 2-0 victory over Manchester United, followed that with a 1-0 win at Coventry City and then held Aston Villa to a goalless draw.
They had therefore gone three league matches without conceding before Chelsea finally breached their defence.
Despite that impressive start, Hull's first defeat of the season came in midweek when Sunderland eliminated them from the Carabao Cup with a 1-0 victory.
The response at Stamford Bridge was immediate.
Hull conceded twice for the first time in the league but still walked away with a point against one of the division's biggest clubs.
Belloumi continues to emerge
Mohamed Belloumi was central to Hull's performance.
The forward's two goals gave the visitors a genuine opportunity to leave Stamford Bridge with a famous victory, while his threat ensured Chelsea could not simply dominate the game after falling behind.
João Pedro's equaliser ultimately prevented Hull from taking all three points, but the Tigers' ability to score twice away against Chelsea will further strengthen belief within Jakirovic's squad.
Hull remain unbeaten in the Premier League after four matches, underlining just how quickly the newly promoted side have adapted to life among England's elite.
For Jakirovic, however, the message is unlikely to change: the season is still in its early stages, and Hull's priority remains accumulating enough points to secure their top-flight status.
But after Manchester United, Coventry, Aston Villa and now Chelsea, the Tigers are already showing that they are capable of competing with far more established Premier League sides.
Fan Debate
⚽ Goal: Hull City can genuinely finish in the top half this season.
🔥 Fire: Jakirovic deserves serious credit for Hull's start.
😲 Shock: Chelsea were fortunate not to lose at Stamford Bridge.
👍 Like: Mohamed Belloumi will be one of the Premier League's breakout players this season.
💬 Comment: How far can Hull City realistically go this season?
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!