“We are trying to prove people wrong.”

Hull City delivered a stunning performance as they stunned Manchester United with a 2-0 win on their return to the Premier League.

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Predictions had placed the Tigers at the bottom of the table, as they barely secured promotion last season through the Championship play-offs.

Mike White, sports editor and commentator for BBC Radio Humberside, noted: “Everyone wrote them off before a ball was kicked, with questions or even predictions that they’d ‘do a Derby’ [for the lowest points tally in Premier League history].

“It was a somewhat lazy, but in so many ways, understandable prediction – because why wouldn’t you tip them to go down as the last team to come up and who’ve had questions about some of their recruitment?”

The nature of the Tigers’ promotion had intensified the expectations of their relegation status.

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Hull barely made it into the play-offs, edging past Wrexham for sixth place on the final day.

They became the first team to finish sixth and win the play-offs since Blackpool in 2010.

After defeating Millwall, they clinched the final match 1-0 against Middlesbrough, which had only confirmed their place three days earlier after their semi-final rivals, Southampton, faced expulsion over spying incidents.

Despite having one of the lowest shot tallies and facing the most shots against in the division, Hull managed to gain promotion.

Their remarkable journey is underscored by their penultimate season, where they narrowly avoided relegation on the final day by goal difference in 2025.

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Five players from the starting lineup against United were also part of that team.

Head coach Jakirovic responded this week after former Premier League footballers Joe Cole, Carlton Cole, and Wayne Bridge dismissed Hull’s chances of staying up during a podcast.

BBC reporter White remarked: “The comments went beyond understandable observations and made it more personal – resorting to ridicule and mockery and it’s rubbed a few people up the wrong way.

“What it did do was act as extra motivation for a Tigers side who were already fired up to prove people wrong, or more importantly prove to themselves that they’re more than a match for football’s elite.”

“We are trying to prove people wrong.”

Hull City certainly managed to support their manager Sergej Jakirovic’s desire as they shocked Manchester United – and many neutral observers – with a 2-0 win on their return to the Premier League.

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The Tigers have been predicted by many to finish bottom, having only squeezed into the Premier League via last season’s Championship play-offs.

Mike White, BBC Radio Humberside’s sports editor and Hull City commentator, said: “Everyone wrote them off before a ball was kicked, with questions or even predictions that they’d ‘do a Derby’ [for the lowest points tally in Premier League history].

“It was a somewhat lazy, but in so many ways, understandable prediction – because why wouldn’t you tip them to go down as the last team to come up and who’ve had questions about some of their recruitment?”

The manner of the Tigers’ promotion made their status as relegation favourites even more pronounced.

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Hull only squeezed into the play-offs, overtaking Wrexham into sixth spot on the final day.

They then became the first team to finish sixth and win the play-offs since Blackpool in 2010.

Having beaten Millwall, they won the final 1-0 against Middlesbrough – whose place had only been confirmed three days before after semi-final opponents Southampton were expelled after being punished for spying.

They also gained promotion despite having the fifth-fewest shots and facing the third most shots in the division.

Hull’s achievement was made even more remarkable by the fact they had only avoided relegation on the final day – and on goal difference – in 2025.

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Five of the starting line-up against United played for the Tigers in that near-relegation season.

Boss Jakirovic spoke out this week after former Premier League players Joe Cole, Carlton Cole and Wayne Bridge mocked Hull’s chances of survival on a podcast.

BBC reporter White said: “The comments went beyond understandable observations and made it more personal – resorting to ridicule and mockery and it’s rubbed a few people up the wrong way.

“What it did do was act as extra motivation for a Tigers side who were already fired up to prove people wrong, or more importantly prove to themselves that they’re more than a match for football’s elite.”