Jakirovic Praises Hull's Resilience After Chelsea Draw

Hull City walked out of west London with more than just a point. They left with proof that their Premier League return is no fairy tale start, but a serious statement.

They had to fight for it. Hard.

The visitors were rocked early when Morgan Rogers struck to put Chelsea in front, the kind of moment that usually signals a long afternoon for a newly promoted side. Instead, it lit a fire.

Mohamed Belloumi dragged Hull level, punishing a costly error from Jorrel Hato. Suddenly Chelsea looked rattled, Hull emboldened. The Tigers pushed again and were rewarded when Belloumi’s second took a deflection off Levi Colwill and flew in. From 1-0 down to 2-1 up, away to one of the division’s heavyweights.

The turnaround left their manager, Jakirovic, brimming with pride.

“I feel good. We have to be happy. It's a huge result for us,” he told BBC Sport, the satisfaction clear after watching his side go toe-to-toe with elite opposition. “We took a point in a very demanding match. Eight points against very difficult opponents. We have to continue like this.”

The pressure, inevitably, came after the break. Chelsea cranked up the tempo, and the Hull back line started to bend. Cole Palmer finally picked the lock, threading a pass for Joao Pedro to level in the second half. The equalizer felt avoidable to Jakirovic.

“We have to control play better in the box because we can stop this [Chelsea goal],” he admitted, refusing to gloss over the defensive lapses even on a landmark day.

Yet Hull still carved out chances that could have made the story even more remarkable.

“We had 2-1 at half-time and we had a 100% chance with McBurnie but Martinez's save was excellent,” Jakirovic said. The theme continued. “We had an excellent chance for Cho – Martinez saved again. Player of the match.”

Those missed chances might haunt them on another day. For now, they add weight to the idea that Hull are not just clinging on in games; they’re shaping them.

A blistering return to the top flight

The draw at Chelsea extends a stunning start to life back in the Premier League. Hull opened with a 2-0 win over Manchester United, a result that turned heads on its own. They backed it up with a gritty 1-0 victory over Coventry City, then shut out Aston Villa in a goalless draw.

Unbeaten. Eight points. Tough opponents. And now a comeback and a point at Chelsea to stack on top of it all.

The label of “surprise package” no longer feels generous. It feels accurate.

Jakirovic, though, is not getting carried away. The performance thrilled him; the details still bother him. Control in the box. Game management. Ruthlessness in front of goal. Those are the margins that decide whether this run becomes a season-long story or a brief early flourish.

Concern for Mendy tempers celebrations

Amid the noise around the result, one incident cut through the optimism. Nobel Mendy’s injury cast a shadow over the afternoon.

The defender was forced off after a collision, clearly struggling as he left the pitch. Any thoughts of tactics or table positions faded as medical staff moved in.

“He went to hospital for a scan. He's dizzy and disorientated. We'll see. It's a concussion 100%,” Jakirovic confirmed after the final whistle.

It was a stark reminder of the physical cost of this level, even on a day that felt like another giant stride forward for the club.

Hull leave west London still unbeaten, still defiant, and still demanding more of themselves. The question now is simple: how long can the Tigers keep snarling at the top end of the table?