Hull City extended their unbeaten start in the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Chelsea at the KC Stadium on Sunday. The promoted side, often tipped for an immediate return to the Championship, now have eight points from four matches under manager Sergej Jakirovic, continuing their surprising early-season form.

Chelsea opened the scoring through Morgan Rogers, whose precise strike put the visitors ahead in the opening stages. However, Hull responded before halftime with two goals that energized their supporters. Ryan Giles set up Mohamed Belloumi’s powerful half-volley after the Chelsea defense faltered, followed shortly by Belloumi himself capitalizing on a scramble in the penalty area to put Hull in front. Despite the setback, Chelsea fought back after the break, with Joao Pedro equalizing by firing into the top corner from Cole Palmer’s assist.

Jakirovic expressed some frustration that his side did not secure all three points, highlighting missed chances late in the match. Hull striker Oli McBurnie and substitute Mohamed-Ali Cho both came close, only to be denied by Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez, whose performance drew praise from the Hull manager. “It’s a huge result,” Jakirovic said. “We had a 2-1 lead at half-time and good chances that Martinez saved brilliantly. We can be very happy with a point from a demanding game against strong opponents.”

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso acknowledged his side’s inconsistency over the course of the match. “Playing well for 15 to 20 minutes is not enough,” Alonso said. “You have to maintain momentum and intensity for 90 minutes, and there were times we failed to do that.” He conceded that Chelsea’s defensive lapses, reminiscent of issues from the previous season, ultimately cost them.

The match demonstrated Hull’s resilience and ability to absorb pressure from a high-profile opponent and launch effective counterattacks. Their tactical discipline frustrated Chelsea, who possess considerable pace and attacking potential but struggled to maintain consistency throughout the contest.

As the Premier League enters its early phase, Hull is proving a challenging opponent for established sides, dispelling doubts about their readiness for top-flight competition. Meanwhile, Chelsea will be looking to address the defensive shortcomings that have so far undermined their promising attacking displays.