Chelsea bounced back from their embarrassing capitulation at Arsenal last weekend, to battle past a determined Hull City side at the KCOM Stadium.
In the wake of back to back defeats in the league, Antonio Conte decided to drop both Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas as he reverted to a 3-4-3 formation. This meant that the more than lacklustre Nemanja Matic kept his place alongside N’Golo Kante, whilst Victor Moses and new signing Marcos Alonso both came in as wing-backs – with the pair of them both starting a Premier League game for the first time this season.
The first-half was lethargic and chances were at a premium. As a result, the sides went in level at the break – with Hull probably shading the opening exchanges, having come close through Ryan Mason and Robert Snodgrass.
Chelsea came out with a different attitude in the second-half however and they were rewarded for their endeavour with two identical quick-fire goals.
The first goal came as the diminutive figure of Willian cut inside his man before curling a right-footed effort past the helpless David Marshall. The second goal came just minutes later, as Diego Costa curled home another right-footed effort after the ball broke to him from Matic’s blocked shot.
Chelsea could have had a third late on, but Pedro put his effort from close range wide of the keeper. The Blues also hit the post, whilst multiple long-range efforts were palmed away by Marshall in a far more eventful second-half.
