Can Hull follow Bolton’s 2001/02 example all season long?

With Steve Bruce resigning before the opening day, injuries stacking up and a lack of new signings to celebrate, things looked bleak for Hull in 2016/17.

But despite all that the Tigers have defied the odds over the opening two matches of the Premier League season by winning both.

Many people’s tip for relegation started things off with a win over defending champions Leicester, before following up with a 2-0 triumph over Swansea most recently.

By doing so the KC Stadium outfit became the first promoted side to win their first two matches of a top-flight season since Bolton way back in 2001/02.

And if the Tigers keep on following the Trotters’ example then there’s more good news in store.

Sam Allardyce’s side actually won their first three games as a Premier League outfit. They too bettered Leicester on the opening day, before going on to defeat both Middlesbrough and Liverpool at home.

Michael Ricketts was the star of the show, scoring three goals in as many games as part of a 12-strike season.

Bolton actually only lost once in the first seven matches that season and despite slumping over the winter months, ended up surviving relegation on goal difference in May.

After the preparation they’ve had for the current campaign, Hull would surely take a similar result some 14 years later.

We currently make Mike Phelan’s men 10/11 to be relegated this term and 6/1 to beat Manchester United next time out.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.