Hull City and the best Premier League starts by promoted teams after four games | OneFootball

Hull City have exceeded all expectations after an unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign. Surprise promotion winners last season, Hull were most people's picks for relegation, but sit third in the table after four games.

Hull have had the joint-second best start ever by a promoted side inPremier League history after four games, and we've looked at how the others fared at the season's end.

Portsmouth - 2003/04 (8 points)

Final position: 13th

Portsmouth picked up eight points from their first four games after promotion in 2003, beating Aston Villa on the opening weekend to kickstart their campaign. Harry Redknapp's side did not lose until September 20th, but wobbled across the autumn.

Portsmouth won just four times in 25 games between August and mid-March, but an eight-game unbeaten run across the run-in propelled them clear of trouble. Yakubu scored 16 league goals as Portsmouth finished the campaign 13th, including four against Middlesbrough on the final day.

Blackburn Rovers - 1992/93 (8 points)

Final position: 3rd

The joint-highest finish ever by a promoted side,Blackburn Rovers ended the inaugural Premier League season third in the table. Rovers had been promoted the previous season as Jack Walker bankrolled an ambitious project, and spent big upon their top-flight return.

Blackburnbroke the British transfer record to sign Alan Shearer from Southampton, while Graeme Le Saux, Henning Berg, and Stuart Ripley were among the other arrivals. Each had key roles in Blackburn's Premier League title success in 1995.

Hull City - 2026/27 (8 points)

Final position: TBC

Hull have had the joint-second best start ever by a promoted side after four games. The Tigers upset the odds tobeat Manchester United on the opening weekend, before claiming a win at Coventry.

Spirited draws with Aston Villa and Chelsea have followed for Hull, who sit third in the table. It's been an astonishing start for Sergej Jakirovic's side, who were rank outsiders to even win promotion last season.

Nottingham Forest - 1994/95 (10 points)

Final position: 3rd

Nottingham Forest flew out of the traps after promotion during the 1994/95 season, going unbeaten across their first 11 league games.

Forest had finished as runners-up to Crystal Palace in the second tier, but soon found themselves competing against the Premier League's best.

Stan Collymore scored 22 league goals as Forest finished behind only Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United to secure UEFA Cup qualification.

Bolton Wanderers - 2001/02 (10 points)

Final position: 16th

Bolton Wanderers won each of their first three Premier League games after promotion in 2001/02, including a win over cup treble-winners Liverpool.

Sam Allardyce's outfit took 10 points from their first four games, though were unable to continue that momentum. Bolton's brilliant start did, however, give them an early cushion from the drop zone. The Trotters ended the campaign 16th, four points above the relegation places.