On the pitch, Hull City have made an impressive start to this season's Premier League campaign, notching up 23 points in 19 games to sit comfortably in 10th place. The Tigers will be keen to avoid a repeat of the 2008-09 season, when their form in the second half of the season nearly saw them relegated after a flying start in their first ever top-flight season.
If they maintain consistency and don't let their heads drop, they are well placed to remain in the top flight. Under the experienced leadership of Steve Bruce, the team is resilient and plays well – big scalps this season include Liverpool and Newcastle, and their final match of 2013, a 6-0 demolition of Fulham, shows that the team is improving in front of goal.
Off the pitch, there have been issues with owner Assem Allam's controversial plans to change Hull City's name to "Hull Tigers", with supporters protesting the move and calling on the FA to halt proceedings.
August
Hull couldn't have asked for a tougher game than away at Jose Mourinho's Chelsea. As it was, the Blues won 2-0. Six days later, the Tigers picked up the first points of their season at home to Norwich, as Robbie Brady scored a penalty in the 1-0 win.
A potential banana skin was avoided when Hull faced high-flying Leyton Orient of League One in the Capital One Cup, winning 1-0 in extra time.
The month finished with another difficult game, away at Manchester City, which ended 2-0 to the 2011-12 champions.
September
Hull's clash with fellow promoted side Cardiff City ended in a 1-1 draw, while the following week, a potentially dangerous Newcastle side was dramatically beaten 3-2 at St James' Park.
Three days later, another tricky fixture, the Capital One Cup game against Huddersfield Town of the Championship, yielded the right result as Hull defeated the Terriers 1-0 at the KC Stadium.
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To top off a good month, the Tigers went on to beat West Ham United at home in the league, a Brady goal the crucial moment in their 1-0 win.
October
In stark contrast to the previous month, October was a bad month for Hull. After a goalless draw at home to Aston Villa, the Tigers would then lose 2-1 to Everton.
A double header followed against Tottenham Hotspur, in the league and in the Capital One Cup, with both games being played at White Hart Lane. In the league fixture, Roberto Soldado's 80th-minute goal proved decisive as the Lilywhites ran out 1-0 winners, while the cup game three days later went all the way to penalties after four goals were evenly shared between the two teams. Spurs won the penalty shootout 8-7 to knock Hull out of the competition.
November
A relatively quiet month for Hull, as only three fixtures were played. An own goal by Carlos Cuellar was the difference as the Tigers beat Sunderland 1-0 at home in the first match of the month, while an impressive performance from Southampton saw them run out 4-1 winners against the Humberside team.
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The third and final game saw Crystal Palace beat Hull 1-0 at the KC Stadium, thanks to a late Barry Bannan goal.
December
A busy month saw Hull play seven fixtures. At home to Liverpool, the Tigers ran out convincing 3-1 winners, as Jake Livermore and David Meyler scored, in addition to Martin Skrtel's own goal.
They couldn't repeat the same heroics against Arsenal, who won 2-0 at the Emirates.
Relatively easier games against Swansea, Stoke and West Bromwich Albion saw three draws. Then another difficult game, at home to Manchester United, saw Hull take a two-goal lead within the opening quarter of an hour, but ultimately ended in defeat as the Red Devils scored two and forced an own goal from James Chester.
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Hull ended the year in emphatic style, as they scored six past a struggling Fulham side. Tom Huddlestone ended a goal drought of over two-and-a-half years on his 27th birthday in the rout.
Giuseppe Labellarte
