Coventry manager Frank Lampard (left), Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic (centre) and Ipswich's Gary O'Neil
By
Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist
- Published35 minutes ago
It was only a few weeks ago that it seemed life in the Premier League might prove a step too far for newly promotedCoventry City.
After storming to the Championship title last season to secure their return to the top flight for the first time since 2001, Frank Lampard's side were given little time to settle into their new surroundings when the campaign began in August.
By the end of their first month back in the Premier League,Coventrywere rooted to the bottom of the table, having lost all four of their matches by a combined score of 10-0.
The final defeat of that brutal introduction - a 5-0 hammering at the hands of high-flyingBrighton- was enough to convince even the most optimistic supporters that a return to the Championship could be on the cards.
But since that humbling defeat on the south coast almost six weeks ago, Lampard's side have breathed new life into their campaign, winning three of their next five matches.
After back-to-back victories overNottingham ForestandNewcastle Unitedin September, Saturday's 3-1 win overSunderlandlifted the Sky Blues to 15th in the table.
Coventryare not the only newly promoted side to have impressed, with former Championship rivalsIpswich TownandHull Cityalso making encouraging starts.
The three teams have collected a combined 31 points after nine games, the 13th-highest tally by promoted sides at this stage in Premier League history.
HullandIpswichaccount for 22 of those points, with Sergej Jakirovic and Gary O'Neil's sides both sitting on 11.
Coventryare slightly behind their promoted peers, but the Sky Blues' three victories have still earned them a respectable nine points.
And there is further encouragement for the newcomers - since the 2010-11 season, all 18 promoted teams who have collected at least 11 points from their opening nine games have avoided relegation.
'It's not going to be an easy ride'
When reflecting onCoventry's summer spending spree, it is clear they were under no illusion of what it takes to compete in the Premier League.
The Sky Blues constructed major surgery on their playing squad by shelling out more than £140m on 12 permanent signings.
That splurge included the arrivals of Caleb Yirenkyi for a club-record fee, Carl Rushworth fromBrighton, and Sidiki Cherif from Fenerbahce.
Lampard also added Premier League experience in the form of Loum Tchaouna from Burnley and Taiwo Awoniyi fromNottingham Forest.
After a summer of such upheaval in the West Midlands, it is no surprise it took Lampard a few weeks - five to be exact - to find his winning touch.
Hindsight has also been kind toCoventry. The fact three of their first four Premier League matches were against the current top three -Arsenal,Manchester CityandBrighton- was clearly far from the ideal introduction.
After Saturday's 3-1 win overSunderland, midfielder Jack Rudoni insisted his side still "believed" in their quality after a bruising start to the campaign.
"We always had that belief," Rudoni told BBC Sport. "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."
'Our lads have some character and we just need to keep it up'
WhenIpswich Townsecured their return to the Premier League in May, few expected much from the Tractor Boys.
Their promotion to the top flight in 2024, ending a 22-year absence, exposed just how ill-equipped they were to compete at that level.
By the end of the 2024-25 season,Ipswichfinished 19th, recording just four wins from 38 Premier League games.
But having secured an immediate return to the top flight, and after significant investment in the squad over the summer, the Tractor Boys look set to put up more of a fight this time around.
The Championship runners-up's summer business was headlined by the return of Julio Enciso, who spent part of the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Portman Road.
The Paraguay international has been instrumental inIpswich's rise this season, assisting their opening goal againstSunderlandbefore setting up another againstManchester Unitedat Old Trafford the following week.
More recently, the 22-year-old has scored in consecutive matches againstNottingham ForestandHull City, helping his side secure vital points against two teams who could be fighting for Premier League survival come the end of the season.
After Saturday's 2-2 draw withHull, O'Neil praised his side's "character" after they fought from behind for the second Premier League match in a row.
"It's tough to be in control and find yourselves 2-1 down with the place bouncing," O'Neil told BBC Match of the Day.
"Our lads have some character and we just need to keep it up.Hullare a very good side and I'm really pleased with how we did against them."
Julio Enciso has scored two Premier League goals for Ipswich Town this season
Are Hull under pressure despite dream start?
The Premier League season had barely begun whenHull Citymade waves.
In their first match in the top flight since being relegated in 2017, the Tigers stunnedManchester Unitedwith a 2-0 victory on the opening weekend.
Although much of the attention centred on what the result meant for United manager Michael Carrick,Hullwere quickly emerging as one of the season's feel-good stories.
Having earned promotion to the Premier League through the Championship play-offs, Jakirovic's side were flying the flag for the promoted clubs in the early weeks of the campaign.
After following up their opening-day triumph with a 1-0 win atCoventry,Hullearned respectable draws againstAston VillaandChelsea.
But since suffering their first defeat of the season, the Tigers have collected just three points from their four matches since.
And withArsenalandBrightonup next, the Tigers will know their impressive start could count for little if they fail to add to their points tally soon.
But the Premier League is a marathon, not a sprint - and all three promoted clubs will have belief that they can build on their encouraging starts.
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