Jakirovic jokes Hull will 'kick them' as unbeaten Tigers face Chelsea's free-scoring attack

Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic has laughed off the scale of the challenge awaiting his side at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, joking that the most effective way to stop Chelsea’s attack is simply “to kick them” — before acknowledging the very real threat posed by Xavi Alonso’s prolific frontline.

The Tigers arrive in west London in remarkable shape for a newly promoted side, having taken seven points from their opening three Premier League fixtures — beating Manchester United and Coventry before drawing with Aston Villa — without conceding a single goal. That defensive record will face its toughest test yet against a Chelsea attack featuring Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, who have combined to help the hosts score 16 goals across five league and cup games this season.

“To kick them? No, if you are there man-marking, you don’t have a chance,” Jakirovic said with a smile when asked how Hull might neutralise Chelsea’s movement. “So it’s very, very simple because they are capable to pass one, two, three players. It’s about being together — compact team, team effort and defending as a team, and we will see. But they have very, very big quality and it will be very, very demanding for us.”

Despite the encouraging start, Jakirovic was keen to stress that his side have not yet reached their ceiling. “Every game, it’s a new challenge. I expect in every game that we grow,” he said. “We have seven points, which is good. We didn’t concede, which is excellent. But I also know that a lot of teams will be very motivated to score against us — it’s just about tactical discipline, no matter what’s going on on the pitch.”

On the injury front, Hull received positive news ahead of the trip to London. Brooke Norton-Cuffy, who had felt discomfort in his calf after the Aston Villa match, was cleared following a scan, while John Egan and Paddy McNair are also available despite minor concerns after Tuesday’s game against Sunderland. Hidemasa Morita and Charlie Hughes remain the only absentees.