How Hull City is shocking the Premier League: Jakirovic's bigger, more explosive, hungrier 'parked' bus

Hull City, if you haven't heard, have done it again — adding to their point total with a resolute and hungry performance against another Premier League blue blood following a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Sergej Jakirovic's newly-promoted Tigers aren't mauling their opposition but they constantly look ready to maul their marks. This isn't a sustainable system for a full season but it's certainly a recipe for safety that may be replicated in the future. MORE — Latest Premier League table as Hull sit third You're going to hear people say that Hull are not parking the bus but that's an illusion that would make Harry Houdini blush. Make no mistake about it — the Tigers are parking the bus. It's just a big, explosive, souped-up bus that can make 30% possession look incredibly dangerous. "I feel good. We have to be happy with one point," Jakirovic said. "I know we led 2-1 but second half we didn't play especially on the ball — we were not so brave. We had a 100% chance for 3-1 by McBurnie, Martinez saved excellently. After 2-2 they of course would push more but then we had an excellent chance for Oli and Cho and Martinez saved again — for me played of the match. At the end we can be very happy because we took a point from a very demanding match." Jakirovic looks like he's given instruction from an alternate David Moyes playbook constructed when Moyes had been up all night chugging espresso with a second IV line of root beer in his veins. This is a team full of strong, committed players who don't just sit back closing down spaces — it's always in the front of their mind what will happen once they get the ball and can attack the other side. MORE — Premier League fixtures, results for 2026-27 season We'll get into that in a moment, but a bus like this needs to do in order to carry a team to its destination is stay composed mentally. Mentality is huge for a group of underdogs, and Jakirovic clearly is pulling last season's playoff momentum into the Premier League. Cause Jakirovic has his players, like Oli McBurnie, completely bought into his plan. If the Premier League is the more athletic, tightest-marking division in the world, then Hull are doing what they can to be their most athletic, and tightest-marking — they aren't delusional. "Not sure Hull are winning the league or making Champions League but it's something for the fans to cherish and for the boys," said Oli McBurnie. "The best way to enjoy these games are by putting up performances like that." How Sergej Jakirovic has souped-up Hull’s parked bus, aware passengers Just look at how Hull responded after going down 1-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. "We were organized and we knew Chelsea would leave four players in front — we have to be very sharp, clear the ball strong," Jakirovic said. "We conceded unfortunately from that. We were compact because I expected we would be in low block, middle block, low block because they have huge offensive players." That last part really loads the statement, because Hull are designed to deal with big players... because they've brought in big players. Maybe they loom a little larger because of the tiger stripes on their kits, but Hull's 10-man low block is filled with eager, large men. It's a line of five and a line of four that becomes six and three when the ball goes out wide and the closest defender moves to the danger. John Egan leads the back line at 6-foot-1, He plays bigger than that and is armed with experience defending with a PL underdog from his time with Chris Wilder's Sheffield United — a team that was at its best with unorthodox counter-attacking from its back line. MORE — Xabi Alonso reaction from Chelsea 2-2 Hull Semi Ajayi next to him is 6-foot-4, Nobel Mendy is 6-foot-2 and looks composed from brick. Matt Crooks in the midfield is 6-foot-4 and Elliot Stroud 6-foot-1. Ryan Giles is a 6-footer (just). And they are ready to fight. Look at the numbers from a really difficult set of fixtures to restart life in the Premier League: Week 1: 28% possession, win over Man United Week 2: 32% possession, win over Coventry Week 3: 26% possession, draw with Aston Villa Week 4: 32% possession, draw with Chelsea "Four rounds, eight points against very difficult opponents. We are in a good part and we have to continue like this." Jakirovic also noted that Mendy, who left the game dazed after a back post challenge from Joao Pedro, will miss some time. "He went to hospital and had scan. He was disoriented. It's concussion, 100%." Who replaced Mendy, by the way? MLS export, 6-foot-4 teen Lucas Herrington. There's a plan here... and so far it's working well. There are going to be games where this plan gets diced up by in-form attackers but more often than not the Tigers can get over the line and that could carry them well above the more important barrier: 18th-place.