Sun 24th May - Kingston Communications Stadium
Last updated: 8th October 2008
Duffen: Happy with start
Chairman Paul Duffen has insisted that Hull's target remains survival despite their sensational start to the season.
The Tigers have beaten Arsenal and Tottenham in their last two games to climb to third in the Premier League table.
Duffen accepts that confidence has rocketed in recent weeks and feels that Hull could spring further surprises against the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United.
"Because of the way we have started the season, and in picking up wins at Arsenal and Tottenham, we will be playing Chelsea and Manchester United in a few weeks and we will be approaching both games believing we can win," Duffen told the Hull Daily Mail.
"Most of our fans will now be looking at our next game against West Ham and thinking it is a game we could win.
"At the beginning of the season people may not have been so positive. As long as fans go to games believing we could win, rather than we should win, then all will be fine."
Hull were widely tipped for relegation before the season kicked off but they have already collected 14 points.
Duffen realises the importance of not getting carried away and would still be happy just to avoid the drop, but he has urged the players not to become complacent.
He explained: "I don't believe in changing targets. While I've never had a problem with exceeding targets, I have never been one to change them.
"Our targets are clear. We have 38 games and we try to win every one of them.
"If we get to 40 points by February it won't be job done and we won't slow down.
"The important thing is that we don't approach anything from the half-glass empty view of avoiding relegation.
"We are talking at all times about retaining our status and making us a permanent member of this division."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 18th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 12:00 | North Ferriby Utd vs Hull |
| Tuesday 21st July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Carlisle vs Hull |
| Saturday 25th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Sheff Wed vs Hull |
| Sunday 9th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Aberdeen |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Hull |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Tottenham |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Bolton |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs Hull |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Hull |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Liverpool vs Hull |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Wigan |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 9th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 1 - 2 Stoke | |
| Monday 4th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Hull | |
| Saturday 25th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 1 - 3 Liverpool | |
| Saturday 18th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 0 Hull | |
| Saturday 11th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 3 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 4th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Sunday 22nd March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Hull | |
| Tuesday 17th March | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Arsenal 2 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 1 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Wednesday 4th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 0 - 1 Hull | |
| Sunday 1st March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 1 - 2 Blackburn | |
| Thursday 26th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Sheff Utd | |
| Monday 23rd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 1 - 2 Tottenham | |
| Saturday 14th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Sheff Utd 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 7th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 0 - 0 Hull | |
| Saturday 31st January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 2 - 2 West Brom | |
| Wednesday 28th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 0 Hull | |
| Saturday 24th January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Hull 2 - 0 Millwall | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Everton | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Fulham | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Hull City | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Liverpool | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Manchester City | 0 | 0 |
Following their scramble to secure Premier League safety, the Tigers will hope to strengthen to avoid second season syndrome.
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