Hull City Roundup: Tigers Third, Unbeaten and Yet to Concede

Hull City's start to the season could hardly have been more solid. According to the Premier League table, the Tigers sit third after three matches with seven points, are unbeaten, and hold a defensive record no other club in the division can match.

Where Hull stand

The early table makes for unusually comfortable reading in East Yorkshire:

• Position: third, behind only Manchester City and Arsenal, who both have nine points from three wins
• Points: seven from a possible nine, one clear of fourth-placed Chelsea
• Record: two wins and a draw, three goals scored, none conceded
• Form: a draw followed by back-to-back wins

The defensive column is the standout. Hull are the only side in the division yet to concede, with Arsenal, on one goal conceded, the next stingiest, according to the table. At the other end, three goals is a modest return; only Leeds United, in ninth, have scored as few among the top nine. When nothing is going in at the wrong end, though, it has been enough. Eight of the top nine are unbeaten, with Chelsea the exception, which puts Hull's position in context.

The results so far

In sequence, Hull drew 0-0 at home to Aston Villa, who remain winless in 18th with a single point; won 1-0 at Coventry City, who prop up the table on zero points; and beat Manchester United 2-0 at home, with United down in 11th on four points. Each of the three matches ended in a clean sheet, which goes a long way to explaining both the unbeaten record and the goal difference of plus three.

What's next

The fixture list now sharpens. Hull travel to Chelsea on Saturday 12 September, with Chelsea fourth on six points and on a two-match winning run since losing their opener, according to the table. Seven days later, on Saturday 19 September, comes a trip to Newcastle United, sixth and unbeaten. Chelsea have conceded seven goals in three games — more than any other side currently in the top half — which may offer Hull's attack its best opening yet, while Newcastle's own unbeaten start means neither away day will be straightforward.

The FanTribe view

FanTribe's own numbers are thin on the ground for now: the Hull City hub currently counts no registered supporters, so there is no fan sentiment or prediction data to include in this roundup. For Tigers fans enjoying this start, the run-up to the Chelsea trip would be a natural moment to change that.

Three games is a small sample, and the picture will shift if the next two away afternoons go against Hull. Even so, seven points, an unbeaten record and three clean sheets from three — the division's only perfect defensive start, according to the Premier League table — are foundations the club would happily have taken at this stage of the season.