John Egan was once again immense at the heart of the defence as Hull City continued their incredible start to Premier League life with a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday evening.

The Tigers were widely tipped for relegation, having drastically overperformed compared to all statistical metrics in their Championship promotion campaign last season.

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However, they remain unbeaten after three games, with seven points from a possible nine to start their first Premier League campaign in ten years.

The opening-day win over Manchester United stunned the league, but backing that up with a victory over fellow promoted side Coventry City last weekend was arguably just as significant.

They have now claimed another point against Champions League opposition with a resolute defensive performance against Aston Villa earning them a draw on Saturday.

Most impressive has been Hull’s resolute defence, with the newcomers yet to concede a Premier League goal.

Crucial to that has been Ireland international John Egan, playing in the top flight for the first time in three years.

He was named Man of the Match from the draw against Aston Villa, and his teammate Ryan Giles had a telling quip for the Irishman in their post-match interview.

John Egan MOTM in Hull draw

John Egan spoke to Sky Sports after Hull City’s 0-0 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday evening.

The 33-year-old hailed his teammates for their defensive efforts against Villa and across the opening weekends of the Premier League season.

It’s a good point, a good clean sheet first and foremost. I think both teams had chances.

They’re a really good team. We had our chances too. I think we finished probably the stronger of the two teams.

Overall, I think it’s just a really good point for us, yeah.

A lot of work goes into [defensive organisation] on the training pitch. It probably started in the playoffs last year when we moved to that shape. We’ve a lot of experienced players, who’ve played a lot of games. It all helps.

We’ve got lads who want to work together and defend for each other. So far, so good. We just have to keep improving.

Hull have now claimed results against three very different teams, something which Egan thinks can give them confidence as they adapt to life in the top flight.

It’s huge for our confidence coming up into the Premier League. A good start is important.

We got the win the first day and I think that gave everyone confidence. You see Gile-o, the confidence he’s playing with going forward, probably one of the best deliveries in the league.

We’re playing to our strengths, we’ve got good players in attack, we’ve got good players who can defend in a block.

It’s about improving now, taking confidence from every result, and on to the next one.

Ryan Giles, too, has been superb across the opening three weekends, and would have been a worthy candidate for MOTM on Saturday evening.

His quip to John Egan when asked to hand the award over to the Irishman was telling of the esteem Egan’s Hull teammates hold him in.

It’s an absolute pleasure to hand this over to you big man, honestly!

Hull City’s next test comes on Tuesday night when they face Sunderland in the EFL Cup third round.

If they can replicate Sunderland’s Premier League heroics from last season, they will be in the mix to have their greatest-ever top flight season.