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Amid sleet, snow, and a biting breeze off the banks of the Humber Estuary, alongside a resolute home side fighting for a top-flight place, this presented all the ingredients of a difficult evening’s task for Chelsea.

"We could have scored more but Hull are a good team and it was a tough fixture; I am delighted with the display," the manager stated. "Hull City is very special to me so it was great to get a good reception from both sets of fans. The application of the players was superb."

Liam Rosenior has this place close to his heart, given some of his relatives are from Hull and his enjoyable period in management of the Tigers. His positive association continued with a commanding display from his team, who in the end strolled into the fifth round of the famous old competition.

Clinical Edge Seals Comfortable Victory

Seventy-two hours after surrendering a two-goal advantage in the league, there was a sniff of vulnerability about Chelsea going into this potentially tricky cup clash. The capacity home support clearly sensed it too, but the London side navigated the challenge with ease.

The manager made alterations, making multiple of them to his XI. The tie could and perhaps ought to have been decided earlier than it eventually was, with two the Brazilian winger and the forward at fault for missing glorious chances to put their side in front in the opening period.

However, luckily for the away team, their Portuguese attacker was in a far more clinical frame of mind. He opened the deadlock with a spectacular long-range strike, which acted as the catalyst for Chelsea to assume command of the match. By the final whistle, they had 4 goals, with the forward netting three of them for a superb three-goal haul.

Delap's Response and Impact

The home side displayed great spirit all game, but the clearer chances consistently came Chelsea’s way. The winger ought to have broken the deadlock when he went past keeper Dillon Phillips before inexplicably firing over. Delap then had a similar nightmare moment in front of goal against his former club.

He deflected a Phillips's kick which came off the bar, and he started to run away believing the ball had gone over the line. It hadn’t, and by the time he understood, Hull's backline had responded to clear the danger.

Delap had his head in his hands after that miss, but he was hugely instrumental from that point onward, providing three key passes. The opening was for the opening goal as his pass set up Neto to score from outside the box. Shortly after the restart, it was two as Neto's corner went straight in through the keeper's legs.

Contest Sealed and Attention Shifts

Soon after Neto’s second, the tie was put beyond doubt as a magnificent run from Delap teed up Estêvão to slide into an empty net. Neto then completed his treble as the provider once again played the crucial pass for the striker to calmly convert by a helpless goalkeeper.

By that stage, the effort Hull had done in the first thirty minutes had long since erased. Their focus must now switch back to securing a return to the top division under their manager, who rested several first-choice individuals with that goal in mind.

"I think we deserved at least one goal but if we play like this we will be in a strong situation in the Championship," the Hull manager commented. "Keep fighting, maybe in the upcoming games this can be a positive example of how we should play."

There was great effort to the end, and they nearly got a late goal when Lewis Koumas hit a the upright in stoppage time. But this was the Blues' night, and another encouraging step forward for their recently-appointed manager at a place he knows intimately.

Cup History Look Good

The result resulted in an in the end routine night's work, and the FA Cup-shaped omens are positive from here for Chelsea. They have faced Hull on three previous times in this tournament in the past ten years and every single time, they have progressed to make the final. There is still work in that regard, but this was another significant tick for Rosenior.