Three goals from Chelsea was enough to secure three points, however resistance from Hull made this a hard fought affair.
Source: chelseafc.com
Having traversed of the winning road in recent weeks: their Champions League exit and a draw to Southampton. Amendments were needed to maintain their charge for the Premier League title.
Embodying hardened soldiers, Chelsea wanted to come back fighting at the start of the match inside the lair of Hull – the KC stadium. They certainly prevailed in that respect, two goals fired in by the talented duo of Hazard and Costa in the first ten minutes was suggesting of a game where goals and three points were not going to be missed.
Indeed, no sooner had Chelsea kicked of for the match had a gap made way for Hazard, who, using his left foot shot dynamically past McGregor. His 25 yard hurtled shot already propelling a statement of intent to Chelsea that their stuttering form was on its way to be halted.
Seeking to consume total control of the game, Chelsea scored again through the hot-headed Diego Costa, who picked up the ball from the right and breaking into the box, unleashed a fearsome shot, empathetically curled in to double the advantage.
Destined for a rampant win was what most Chelsea fans were musing about at this moment in time. Credit to Hull, they still had an impressive, determined tempo to their game.
N’Doye could of lessened the advantage for Chelsea, as a Cahill foul led to a Hull free-kick, its goal bound attempt saved expertly by Courtois on the right.
It didn’t seem that Chelsea’s inhabitants on cloud nine was particularly stable as Hull were helping themselves to a healthy extent of the possession.
This optimism was rewarded as an inspired run from Robertson (the wingback operating on the left) led to Ivanovic being left dwindling after the ball was put through his legs. Delicately crossed in, it came to Elmohamady who slid in perfectly to instigate a Hull revival. The combination of both wingbacks proving that this Hull team were far from being put to bed.
Hope was certainly riveting through this Hull team, 75 seconds it took for that mentality to be justified. A back-pass from Ivanovic led to a distatrous touch from Courtois placing itself for Abel Hernandez to slide in – an unmitigated howler from the Chelsea goalkeeper. 2-2.
Hull were dominating in midfield from then on, Livermore and Elmohamady dominating the rhythm of the game, attempting shots on goal, Time for a premature trip to the dressing room for Mourinho.
It was Chelsea who started the second half with the ball predominantly at their feet. But their crushed lead had knocked their confidence going forward, that they had at the beginning.
Trumping them was Hull, who forced a triple save out of Courtois. The midfield triumvirate of Elmohamady, Livermore and Ramirez were unlucky not to fool the Belgian keeper, who had suffered a blunder to forget in the first period.
It now seemed that the power was in Hull’s hands again, mission impossible had turned into mission quite possible.
Into the last period of the game and the introduction of Loic Remy for Diego Costa finally took place. Not a regular starter but Remy proved moments later why Chelsea made the effort to sign him last summer.
A solidly struck shot from Remy was enough to outwit the goalkeepers wailing arms and hands to creep into the net, not footballing gold, but gold in contrast to the calamities Chelsea suffered in the first half. Chelsea’s abundance in class was the difference as they secured a win that nearly eluded them at the end.
Having potentially surged towards an unlikely win, Hull put in a hard-working display today, however Chelsea had more petrol in the tank. QPR’s loss to Everton will be something to celebrate as this improves their survival chances in the long-run.
I felt that Chelsea were slightly lucky today, while I was impressed with the professionalism shown by Remy, who doesn’t let the frustration of being understudy to Costa get to him, and when he is called upon he does the job. It is players like this that distinguish Chelsea from their title rivals, they work as a team – even those who don’t start.
A tight win for Chelsea, but they are back on the winning road which is all that matters as the season comes towards its epic conclusion.
Edward
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