A selection of national media coverage on Hull City's 2-2 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday
Hull City celebrate after their first goal, scored by Mohamed Belloumi
Hull City celebrate after their first goal, scored by Mohamed Belloumi (Image: Getty Images)
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The national media have had their say on Hull City's 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers came from behind to shock the Blues at Stamford Bridge, with Mo Belloumi scoring both goals.
Morgan Rogers broke the deadlock on just seven minutes, smashing the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. City equalised after 28 minutes.
Chelsea keeper Emiliano Martinez flapped at a corner, and after Semi Ajayi's header hit the crossbar, the rebound came to Belloumi who slotted home. City, for a brief time on the live table, were remarkably top of the Premier League.
Cole Palmer's low-driven cross found Joao Pedro to score on the 66th minute. With just three minutes remaining, substitute Mohamed-Ali Cho had the goal at his mercy but he couldn't score. The draw keeps City third in the table and the country's media haved waxed lyrical about Sergej Jakirovic's side's heroics, with many giving their verdicts on whether the club will ultimately be able to stay in the league beyond the current campaign.
The Guardian
The Guardian were full of praise for City. They wrote: "The chants from the away end about winning the league were sung in jest, but Hull continue to show they are here to stay. Sergej Jakirovic’s dogged, intelligent side are third in the Premier League after extending their unbeaten start to four games and can even count themselves unfortunate not to have beaten another of the Big Six after pushing Chelsea to the limit in an absorbing battle at a frustrated Stamford Bridge.
"Jakirovic quashed talk of qualifying for Europe, insisting that survival remains the aim. The Bosnian has everyone pulling in the same direction. Before the start of the season he told his staff he would give them seven days off if Hull took eight points from their first five games. Mission completed with a game to spare."
BBC
The BBC continued the celebratory tone. They said: "For a time, Hull City supporters dared to dream, chanting "we are going to win the league" as their side threatened a famous win. At one stage, the visitors were on course to go top of the Premier League. However, hopes of a first-ever away win at Chelsea were ultimately denied by Joao Pedro's second-half equaliser.
"It has been a remarkable start for the unbeaten Tigers, who have now gone four Premier League matches without defeat. Having already beaten Manchester United and Coventry, they can now add draws against Chelsea and Aston Villa to an impressive early-season record."
Mohamed Belloumi of Hull City celebrates scoring his side's second goal
Mohamed Belloumi of Hull City celebrates scoring his side's second goal(Image: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock)
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The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times wrote: "[Alonso's] Chelsea side did not deserve to beat Hull City, whose remarkable and unbeaten start to the new Premier League season goes on and it is no fluke. This was not a backs-to-the-wall job, nor a point hurried away from a smash and grab.
"This was a well-earned point after playing their part at Stamford Bridge, creating chances and they could — and perhaps should — have won this at the death; substitute Mohamed-Ali Cho inexplicably missed a glorious opportunity from six yards out, teed up by a low Ryan Giles cross, with three minutes of normal time to play.
"Sergej Jakirovic’s side can play. Their opening matches have been rearguard masterclasses but against Chelsea they were forced to come from behind, after conceding early — as every team seems to do against Chelsea — and they showed smarts in possession and guile in their play."
The Daily Mail
The Mail said: "That was the first goal conceded by Hull since their return to the Premier League, but Jakirovic’s visitors were hardly made to work hard to turn this match around in their favour... Hull’s formidable start to this season is no accident.
"They have won two, drawn two, lost none. They are a solid side who play to their strengths, though it was always going to be a big ask for the visitors to hold on to their lead here."