"To say we're the worst team in Premier League history, it's not a bad start from the boys," said Ollie McBurnie, in a light-hearted jab to Hull's critics. Liam Millar's late winner at Coventry made it two wins from two to leave the Tigers in dreamland on their Premier League return. After the opening day victory over Manchester United it was a different, gritty, display on Saturday but winning at the CBS Arena, against a perceived relegation rival, earns Hull huge momentum and belief.
"We don't feel we have anything to prove to anyone. No-one has given us the Premier League, we have all earned it," said striker McBurnie. "We're there on merit, we deserve to be there, we don't have anything to prove to anyone.
It's been a great start." The Scotland international refused to get carried away but the tune of "we're going to win the league" from the away end signalled the Hull fans' glee. It may be fanciful but at least history is on the Tigers' side as they look to stay in the division. Only three teams have ever been relegated from the top flight having won their first two games.
One was the Tigers themselves in 2016-17. Wolves in 2011-12 and West Brom in 2017-18 are the others. Their Premier League survival chances were written off instantly after beating Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final last season.
They now sit second in the early table. At Coventry, Hull looked built for the Premier League. Hulking defender Semi Ajayi dominated at the heart of the Tigers' defence to limit the Sky Blues, who ultimately ran out of ideas.
Nobel Mendy and Lucas Gourna-Douath towered above the hosts while McBurnie was a constant nuisance. The Tigers are the first promoted side to win their opening two games for nine years, since Huddersfield dispatched Crystal Palace and Newcastle. The Terriers beat the drop by four points in 2017-18 and that remains the goal for boss Sergej Jakirovic, especially after his men struggled to find inspiration at Coventry until Millar's intervention.
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