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Post by Football News on Dec 13, 2014 17:11:34 GMT
Chelsea 2 - 0 Hull CityEden Hazard 7 Diego Costa 68
This was a win rather ground out against stubborn and awkward opponents but, in the end, Chelsea will be unconcerned as to how it was chiselled out. Their three-point advantage at the top of the Premier League is retained and, in truth, they may take heart from the reality rivals can be ground into submission when they cannot be passed off the park these days. It still felt comfortable enough, secured as it was by an early goal fro the lively Eden Hazard and a welcome reward after the interval for Diego Costa. The rest was largely huff and puff, Hull City working feverishly but depleted in number after the interval and never really pepped with the conviction that they might secure a first win in this arena. The visitors have now failed to win in nine games, with only one victory in 15. They remain beneath the cut-off and yearning for a spark. Steve Bruce is not wearing a haunted look just yet, but his team’s form must be of considerable concern. Bruce had chuntered disapproval at his team’s early concession, his frustration born less of Hazard being allowed to spring between Curtis Davies and Andrew Robertson to convert with his head for only the second time as a Chelsea player – the other was a deflected effort at West Bromwich Albion in November 2012 – and more of a foul that went ignored in the buildup. John Mikel Obi, retaining his place with Cesc Fàbregas serving a suspension, had planted his boot down on Sone Aluko’s foot to leave the Hull player crumpled on the turf in the centre circle. Nemanja Matic duly ferried the ball out to Oscar, whose glorious cross was nodded down and in by the Belgian. Such has been Hull’s luck of late. They lost their centre-half, Michael Dawson, to injury a few minutes later and might have been expected to wilt. Instead, Bruce’s team summoned some resilience and ensured Chelsea were not permitted their walkover. The visitors were aggressive around the pitch and disrupting the hosts’ rhythm, Aluko constantly harassing Gary Cahill and their trio in midfield discomforting Mikel and Matic. Their industry only yielded half-chances, Aluko and Jake Livermore shooting high or wide, but the fractious nature of the contest had left José Mourinho scowling long before the break. There was dissatisfaction from both coaches at what they perceived to be the erratic nature of Chris Foy’s performance. Both Willian and Costa were booked for diving, though Gary Cahill – cautioned earlier for a bad foul on Aluko – escaped after tumbling too eagerly between Tom Huddlestone and David Meyler in the Hull penalty area. This was the first time Foy had been in charge of a Chelsea game since he sent off two players, and left Mourinho disgusted, at Villa Park back in the spring. His flurry of cards this time merely interrupted play further, the ugly mood on the pitch eventually culminating in Huddlestone’s horrible lunge on Filipe Luís which prompted a straight red card. The locals celebrated that with gusto, though the decision not to penalise James Chester’s handball on the edge of the six-yard box raised their heckles once more. Yet the momentum was firmly with the hosts once more and their pressure eventually told. The excellent Branislav Ivanovic and Hazard combined down the right, the latter turning into space before slipping a pass for Costa to collect. The Spain international had eased himself free of Alex Bruce’s attentions and dribbled his shot inside the far corner to register only a third goal in nine games. Mourinho had expressed some concern at his sharpness, but the finish here was neatly taken. Guardian
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