🔗 Share this article

Against a backdrop of freezing rain, snow, and a biting wind off the waters of the Humber Estuary, alongside a resolute home side pushing hard for promotion, this presented all the ingredients of a difficult night's task for Chelsea.

"We could have scored more but the opposition are a good team and it was a difficult fixture; I am very pleased with the performance," the manager stated. "Hull City means a lot to me so it was great to get a good welcome from the fans of supporters. The attitude of the players was excellent."

Liam Chelsea manager has this place close to his heart, considering some of his family are from Hull and his enjoyable period in management of the Tigers. His positive connection continued with a magnificent display from his team, who in the end strolled into the next round of the FA Cup.

Clinical Edge Seals Comprehensive Victory

Three days removed from letting slip a 2-0 advantage in the Premier League, there was a hint of fragility about them going into this intriguing tie. The packed Hull crowd clearly sensed it too, but the London side handled the task perfectly.

The manager made alterations, enacting multiple of them to his XI. The match might and maybe should have been settled earlier than it actually was, with two the Brazilian winger and the forward at fault for missing excellent chances to put their side in front in the first half.

However, fortunately for the away team, their Portuguese attacker was in a much more clinical mood. He broke the deadlock with a marvellous distance strike, which proved to be the catalyst for his team to assume control of the match. By full time, they had 4 goals, with the forward netting three of them for a brilliant hat-trick.

Delap's Response and Influence

The home side displayed great spirit all game, but the clearer opportunities always fell to the visitors. Estêvão should have broken the deadlock when he rounded keeper the Hull stopper before inexplicably firing over. Delap then had a similar horror moment in front of goal against his former club.

He blocked a the goalkeeper's clearance which came off the bar, and he started to celebrate believing the ball had crossed the line. It had not, and by the time he understood, Hull's defenders had responded to clear the threat.

The player had his head in his hands after that moment, but he was immensely instrumental from that point onward, registering 3 assists. The opening was for the opening goal as his pass teed up Neto to finish from outside the box. Shortly after the second half began, it was two as the forward's set-piece went straight in through Phillips's legs.

Tie Sealed and Focus Turns

Seven minutes after Neto’s second, the match was effectively ended as a dazzling run from the forward teed up his teammate to slide into an empty net. The hat-trick hero then finished his treble as Delap once again delivered the decisive pass for the striker to coolly slot past a stranded goalkeeper.

By that stage, the effort Hull had put in in the opening thirty minutes had been erased. Their priority must now return to securing a promotion to the top division under their manager, who left out a number of key individuals with that goal in mind.

"I think we deserved at least one goal but if we perform like this we will be in a strong situation in the league," he said. "Keep fighting, maybe in the next matches this can be a good example of how we must play."

There was plenty of endeavour to the final whistle, and they almost claimed a consolation when a substitute struck a the upright in injury time. But this was Chelsea’s night, and another encouraging step forward for their recently-appointed manager at a stadium he is familiar with very well.

Cup Omens Look Promising

The result made for an in the end routine night's work, and the cup competition signs are positive from here for Chelsea. They have played Hull on three previous times in this competition in the last decade and on each occasion, they have progressed to reach the showpiece. There is remains to be done in that respect, but this was another significant positive for the Chelsea boss.