Seven points, three clean sheets: Are Hull City entitled to dream of a safe season?

On Saturday night at Villa Park, Hull City produced another resilient display to hold Aston Villa to a goalless draw. It was not the most exciting match, but for a newly promoted side, the result was another sign of maturity. Hull City have now kept three clean sheets in their first three Premier League games of the 2026-26 season and collected seven points from a possible nine. They are only two points behind Manchester City at the top of the early table. Head coach Sergej Jakirovic made a playful remark when asked about Hull’s impressive start on the BBC’s Match of the Day: "Maybe expect to fight for a Champions League place?" He quickly added: "No, of course it is early." It was a response that reflected both confidence and caution. The numbers offer encouragement. Historically, no newly promoted side has ever been relegated after taking seven or more points from their opening three Premier League matches. Across the whole division, only three clubs have gone down after such a start. That does not guarantee survival, but it gives Hull a strong platform. Defender John Egan told Sky Sports that the opening win against Manchester United gave everyone belief. He is right. Hull have shown organization, discipline and a clear game plan. They are happy to let the opposition have the ball, but they are compact out of possession and difficult to break down. Aston Villa controlled long spells, yet still could not score. The real challenge now is consistency. Hull will face injuries, fatigue and tougher opponents who have studied their system. The coach knows that seven points after three games means little if the team loses focus. Still, for supporters, this is a start worth dreaming about. Survival remains the main target, and Hull City are giving themselves the best possible chance to reach it.