Promoted Trio Coventry, Ipswich and Hull Collect 31 Points After Nine Games
Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City have made positive starts to their Premier League campaigns, with the three newly promoted sides collecting a combined 31 points after nine games – the 13th-highest tally by promoted teams at this stage in Premier League history.
- Competition: Premier League
- Combined points: 31 from nine games
- Hull and Ipswich: 11 points each
- Coventry: 9 points, 15th in the table
- Key stat: All 18 promoted teams with 11+ points from opening nine games since 2010-11 have avoided relegation
What was said
"We always had that belief. We have a really good squad here, where the morale is good and we get behind each other, which is what we will continue to do all season."
"We know it's not going to be an easy ride, there's going to be ups and downs - but hopefully more ups than downs. Starting today with another three points, so we can build on that now."
"It's tough to be in control and find yourselves 2-1 down with the place bouncing. Our lads have some character and we just need to keep it up. Hull are a very good side and I'm really pleased with how we did against them."
Rudoni's comments reflect Coventry's growing confidence after a difficult start, while O'Neil's praise for his side's character highlights Ipswich's resilience in fighting back from behind for the second consecutive Premier League match.
The numbers
- Combined points: 31 after nine games (13th-highest by promoted sides at this stage)
- Hull City: 11 points
- Ipswich Town: 11 points
- Coventry City: 9 points
- Coventry's summer spending: Over £140m on 12 permanent signings
Coventry's revival under Lampard
Coventry's start to the season looked daunting, with three of their first four Premier League matches against the current top three – Arsenal, Manchester City and Brighton. A 5-0 defeat at Brighton in August left even optimistic supporters fearing a return to the Championship. However, since that loss, Frank Lampard's side have won three of their next five matches, including back-to-back victories over Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United in September. Saturday's 3-1 win over Sunderland lifted the Sky Blues to 15th in the table.
The club invested heavily in the summer, spending more than £140m on 12 permanent signings, including club-record arrival Caleb Yirenkyi, Carl Rushworth from Brighton, and Sidiki Cherif from Fenerbahce. Lampard also added Premier League experience with Loum Tchaouna from Burnley and Taiwo Awoniyi from Nottingham Forest. That upheaval took time to settle, but the recent results suggest the new-look squad is beginning to gel.
Ipswich's character shines through
Ipswich, promoted as Championship runners-up, have also impressed. The return of Julio Enciso, who spent part of the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Portman Road, has been instrumental. The Paraguay international assisted the opening goal against Sunderland and set up another against Manchester United at Old Trafford the following week. More recently, he scored in consecutive matches against Nottingham Forest and Hull City, helping his side secure vital points. O'Neil's side sit on 11 points and have shown resilience, twice coming from behind in their last two league matches.
Hull's dream start under Jakirovic
Hull City made waves with a 2-0 victory over Manchester United on the opening weekend, their first top-flight match since relegation in 2017. Sergej Jakirovic's side followed that with a 1-0 win at Coventry and respectable draws against Aston Villa and Chelsea. However, since suffering their first defeat of the season, the Tigers have collected just three points from their last four matches. With Arsenal and Brighton up next, Hull will need to add to their points tally to maintain their strong start.
Why the promoted trio are exceeding expectations
The key to the success of Coventry, Ipswich and Hull lies in their summer recruitment and tactical organisation. Coventry's £140m outlay on 12 players has given Lampard options, and the early tough fixtures against Arsenal, Manchester City and Brighton have arguably helped them grow. Ipswich's shrewd move to bring back Enciso has added creativity, while Hull's disciplined approach under Jakirovic has yielded early shocks. The fact that all three sides have at least nine points after nine games is remarkable, and the historical statistic that all 18 promoted teams with 11+ points at this stage since 2010-11 have avoided relegation offers real encouragement.
Talking points
- Coventry's £140m spending spree was necessary to compete, but does it put pressure on Lampard to deliver more than just survival?
- Ipswich's comeback draws show character, but will their lack of a killer instinct cost them in the long run?
- Hull's early wins over Manchester United and Coventry were impressive, but their recent dip suggests the fixture list is catching up.
- With all three promoted sides outperforming recent newcomers, is the gap between the Championship and Premier League closing?
What happens next
Coventry face a crucial run of fixtures as they look to build on their win over Sunderland. Ipswich will aim to turn draws into victories, while Hull face a stern test against Arsenal next, followed by Brighton. The coming weeks will reveal whether these encouraging starts can translate into long-term survival.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do Coventry, Ipswich and Hull have after nine games?
Coventry have 9 points, while Ipswich and Hull each have 11, giving the trio a combined total of 31 points.
Which promoted teams have avoided relegation after a strong start?
Since the 2010-11 season, all 18 promoted teams that have collected at least 11 points from their opening nine games have avoided relegation.
Who are Coventry's summer signings?
Coventry spent over £140m on 12 permanent signings, including Caleb Yirenkyi, Carl Rushworth, Sidiki Cherif, Loum Tchaouna and Taiwo Awoniyi.
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