Tigers earning their stripes

Hull City are 5-1 with Blue Square to further confound the doubters and secure a top-half finish in their first campaign in the Barclays Premier League.

Phil Brown’s team were odds-on favourites to be relegated after their play-off final win in May but have exceeded all expectations by taking 14 points from their opening seven games to sit third behind Chelsea and Liverpool. The Tigers are now a top-priced 8-13 with Ladbrokes to stay up.

Hull, who pulled off the upset of the fledgling season when winning away to Arsenal last month, will fancy their chances in their next two games, hosting West Ham United before travelling to West Bromwich Albion. However, things then get tough with Chelsea and Manchester United their next opposition.

Hull’s victory away to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday has increased the pressure on Spurs’ manager Juande Ramos and the Spaniard is as short as 8-11 with VC Bet to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post.

Ladbrokes make Ramos 5-6 to no longer be in charge at White Hart Lane on Christmas Day, and offer the same odds that he is still at the helm when the turkey is carved.