Pedro Neto Scores Treble as Chelsea Deliver Liam The Boss with Happy Return to Hull

Amid sleet, snow, and a biting wind from the banks of the Humber, combined with a determined Hull City side pushing hard for promotion, this had all the makings of a difficult evening’s task for Chelsea.

"We might have scored more but Hull are a good team and it was a tough tie; I’m delighted with the display," he said. "This club means a lot to me so it was great to get a positive reception from both sets of supporters. The application of the players was excellent."

Liam Chelsea manager holds this place dear to him, given some of his relatives hail from Hull and his enjoyable spell in management of the Championship club. His happy connection was extended with a commanding performance from his team, who ultimately strolled into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Deadly Finishing Seals Comprehensive Win

Three days removed from letting slip a two-goal advantage in the Premier League, there was a sniff of fragility about them going into this potentially tricky cup clash. The packed home crowd evidently sensed it too, but the London side navigated the challenge with ease.

Rosenior made alterations, enacting seven of them to his XI. The tie could and perhaps ought to have been settled long before it eventually was, with two Estêvão Willian and the forward guilty of spurning glorious opportunities to put Chelsea ahead in the opening period.

But, fortunately for the away team, their Portuguese attacker was in a much more ruthless mood. He opened the deadlock with a spectacular long-range effort, which acted as the spark for his team to take command of the match. By full time, they had 4 goals, with Neto scoring a trio of them for a superb three-goal haul.

Delap's Response and Impact

Hull showed great spirit all game, but the better chances always came Chelsea’s way. Estêvão ought to have broken the deadlock when he went past goalkeeper the Hull stopper before unbelievably firing over. The striker then had a similar nightmare moment in front of goal against his former club.

He blocked a the goalkeeper's clearance which came off the bar, and Delap started to run away thinking the ball had crossed the line. It had not, and by the time he realised, Hull's backline had responded to clear the danger.

Delap had his head in his hands after that miss, but he was immensely instrumental from there on out, providing 3 assists. The opening was for the opening goal as his through ball set up his teammate to score from range. Six minutes after the second half began, it was 2-0 as Neto's corner went straight in through the keeper's legs.

Tie Put Beyond Doubt and Focus Turns

Soon after Neto’s second goal, the tie was effectively ended as a magnificent dribble from the forward laid on his teammate to tap into an empty net. Neto then finished his treble as the provider again played the decisive pass for the attacker to calmly convert past a helpless Phillips.

At that point, the effort Hull had put in in the opening half-hour had long since erased. Their priority must now return to achieving a return to the top division under their manager, who rested several key individuals with that goal in mind.

"I think we earned at least one goal but if we perform like this we will be in a very good position in the Championship," he said. "Keep fighting, maybe in the next games this can be a positive lesson of how we should play."

Hull showed great effort to the final whistle, and they almost got a late goal when a substitute struck a the upright in injury time. But this was the Blues' night, and another encouraging step forward for their recently-appointed manager at a place he is familiar with intimately.

Cup History Are Good

The result resulted in an in the end routine night's performance, and the cup competition signs are good from here for Chelsea. They have faced Hull on three other times in this competition in the last decade and on each occasion, they have progressed to make the showpiece. Much still done in that regard, but this was another significant tick for the Chelsea boss.