The Tigers opened their campaign with a balanced blend of familiar EFL stalwarts and fresh recruits.
Only three of their 11 summer arrivals started — including their two costliest additions, Greece goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis and Senegal defender Mendy — whose combined fees topped £20m.
Swedish winger Elliot Stroud was also named in the XI, while Australia defender Lucas Herrington and former Newcastle United full-back Matt Targett came on to make their debuts.
By contrast, the free-kick that Mendy headed in was delivered by Regan Slater — a player who first featured on loan in League One before joining permanently from Sheffield United for just £50,000.
The collective display impressed BBC pundits and former England captains Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer.
Rooney, the ex-United striker, praised Hull’s organisation and industry, noting they’ll need those traits to survive, and said they cleverly exploited United’s weakness against crosses into the box. He added that making home form count will be crucial and called it a great start.
Shearer said Hull were outstanding and clearly the better side.
Talk of Hull threatening Derby’s record low of 11 Premier League points in 2007-08 has already faded.
Head coach Sergej Jakirovic suggested the result could also make the club more attractive to targets before the transfer window closes, saying it may help sway players they’ve been pursuing.
Commentator White noted that while this is just one win in what will be a demanding 38-game season, its significance is substantial. He said Jakirovic has once again devised a plan to defy the odds, and argued that although the play-off run and final were special, this could be his most notable achievement so far.
Ajayi, 32, who opened the scoring after Oli McBurnie’s effort was pushed onto the post, said the squad shut out outside noise and focused on internal standards and the manager’s instructions.
He felt they flew out of the blocks, delivered a strong overall display, and set a platform to build on for the rest of the season.
He added that the group knows its quality — the task was to prove it to themselves and to everyone else.