To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played
"Maybe expect to fight for a Champions League place?"
Sergej Jakirovic could not resist a joke when asked about Hull City's remarkable start to life back in the Premier League on BBC Match of the Day.
"No, of course it is early," the head coach was quick to follow up.
Three games into a season is indeed too small a sample size to predict a club's fortunes.
But with seven points from a possible nine, three clean sheets and only two points behind early pacesetters Manchester City, the Hull supporters can be forgiven for dreaming a little.
"It's huge for our confidence coming up into the Premier League," defender John Egan told Sky Sports.
"The start is important. We got the win the first day [against Manchester United] and I think that gave everyone confidence."
If history is anything to go by, the Tigers may already have gone a long way towards securing their most important objective of the 2025-26 season - preserving their top-flight status.
No newly promoted side has been relegated after taking seven or more points from their opening three Premier League games. Looking beyond promoted sides, only three teams have gone down after doing so.
It might be far too early to settle any survival talks but, following another impressive outing in a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday, there is no doubting Hull have given themselves the perfect platform to build on.
As recently as last year Hull avoided relegation to League One only on goal difference.
Fast-forward 16 months and they are now going toe to toe with the big names of the Premier League.
The turnaround can be traced back to the arrival of Jakirovic before last season.
The former Bosnia international joined a club under a transfer embargo, confining them to free transfers and loans, but still made them promotion contenders.
Jakirovic guided Hull to a play-off win against a Millwall side who finished three places and 10 points above them, before Oli McBurnie's last-gasp winner against Middlesbrough secured top-flight football.
They were the busiest Premier League side with 18 new signings for about £150m, with six of them, including £22m midfielder Tim Iroegbunam from Everton, arriving on deadline day.
"I know the core of my team. This is the Championship players," said Jakirovic, who signed a two-year contract extension on Friday.
"We brought the players in to put some quality there.
"The big problem for me is who didn't have a pre-season. This is a very big problem. But we will try.
"For example, on Tuesday [against Sunderland in the Carabao Cup], we will use that to give minutes, and at the end they will get a new chance."
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played
The result? Hull have beaten Michael Carrick's United and fellow promoted side Coventry City before holding Europa League winners Villa.
Only Charlton in 1998-99 and Huddersfield Town in 2017-18 had kept clean sheets in each of their first three league games after promotion to the Premier League.
"The work goes into it on the training pitch," said Egan, who is part of the three-man defence, alongside Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy, that has yet to be breached.
"It probably started in the play-offs when we moved to that shape. We have a lot of experience and it all helps.
"We've got a lot of lads who want to work together, defend for each other, and so far, so good. We just have to keep improving."
No team has had less of the ball this season than Hull (29%). Since 2003-04, only West Ham in 2023-24 (27%) have had a lower figure over their first three matches.
Hull's rise is in stark contrast to last season's Championship winners Coventry, who are yet to open their account after three games.
Only one of the previous 12 promoted sides have survived after doing so - Southampton in 2012-13.
Yet Jakirovic knows Hull's work is far from done.
Wolves in 2011-12, West Brom in 2017-18 and Leeds United in 2022-23 are the three teams who were relegated despite collecting seven points from their opening three matches.
That equates to only 4% of the 78 teams to have collected seven points after three games and still go down.
It might be a low probability, but Hull do not want to take any chances.
"This is a great result for us," Jakirovic said after his side threatened to claim all three points in the closing stages against Villa at MKM Stadium.
"Seven points. Three games. Clean sheet. Let's move on.
"Our goal is to collect the points. I think around 38-40 points, so as soon as possible to get these points."
