Nigeria defender Semi Ajayi reveals Hull City’s formula for sustaining Premier League surge

Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi has urged Hull City to remain focused on their own progress and target points in every match as they seek to sustain their impressive return to the Premier League.

The Tigers have collected nine points from their opening six matches to sit eighth in the standings following their promotion from the Championship last season.

Hull secured their return to the English top flight for the first time since 2016/17 by beating Middlesbrough 1-0 in the Championship play-off final, joining Coventry City and Ipswich Town among the promoted sides.

Ajayi believes the club have laid a solid foundation for the campaign but insists their early success will count for little if they fail to maintain their standards over the coming months.

“It’s been a good start. We’re happy with the work we’ve done so far,” the defender told Footy-Africa.

“We know we haven’t done anything yet. There’s still a long way to go in the season, but we put ourselves in a really good position to have a positive season, so we’re really happy.”

Ajayi sets sights on Premier League survival

The Nigerian international has been a key figure in Hull’s early-season campaign, featuring in all six league matches and ranking among the club’s most-used players.

Having previously expressed his desire to help the Tigers retain their top-flight status, Ajayi has emphasised the need for consistency rather than allowing their promising start to create complacency.

The defender also made an immediate impression upon Hull’s return to the Premier League, scoring their first goal in the competition in nine years during a memorable 2-0 victory over Manchester United on the opening weekend.

For Ajayi, however, the significance of the occasion extended beyond his personal achievement, with the victory providing an important early statement of Hull’s ambitions.

“It was a blessing to score the first goal back in the Premier League, also against a massive team like Manchester United—something I don’t take lightly,” he said.

“It was more important for me really that we got the three points and the win, which we did. So yeah, I was pleased.”

Super Eagles defender demands consistency

Hull’s next challenge will be to turn their encouraging results into a sustained run of performances against opponents with different playing styles and tactical approaches.

The Tigers drew 2-2 with Everton in their most recent outing and will look to return to winning ways when they face Fulham on Saturday.

Ajayi believes the team’s approach must remain centred on collecting points, regardless of the opposition or the challenges presented by each fixture.

“It’s just another game that we need to win, and we want to pick up points. Every single game is going to be tough this year. We know that every team plays differently, so we’ll approach that game with a new game plan and try to get as many points as we can,” he added.

The defender’s comments underline Hull’s need to adapt from match to match as they navigate the demands of competing in the Premier League.

With the season still in its early stages, maintaining their current position will require the squad to sustain its defensive discipline while continuing to deliver results against established top-flight sides.

Ajayi dismisses Sunderland comparisons

Hull’s promising start has drawn comparisons with Sunderland’s impressive campaign last season, when the Black Cats finished seventh and secured qualification for the Europa League.

However, Ajayi has played down suggestions that Hull should follow a similar trajectory, insisting the club must establish its own identity and write its own story.

Rather than becoming distracted by another team’s achievements, he believes the Tigers should concentrate on their performances and the targets they have set for themselves.

“We’re not really focused on Sunderland. We’re focused on ourselves.

“We have to do our own thing. We have to be Hull City. Sunderland had an amazing season last season, but it’s down to us to create our own history,” he concluded.

Hull will now turn their attention to Fulham as they seek to build on their nine-point haul and strengthen their position in the Premier League standings.