Pedro Forward Scores Hat-Trick as Chelsea Provide Manager Rosenior with Joyous Return to Hull

Amid sleet, flurries, and a biting breeze off the waters of the Humber Estuary, alongside a resolute Hull City side fighting for a top-flight place, this had all the makings of a difficult night's task for Chelsea.

"We could have scored more but Hull are a strong team and it was a difficult fixture; I am delighted with the display," the manager stated. "Hull City means a lot to me so it was great to get a good reception from both sets of fans. The application of the lads was excellent."

Liam Chelsea manager has this city close to his heart, given part of his relatives hail from Hull and his successful period in charge of the Tigers. His positive association was extended with a magnificent display from his team, who ultimately sauntered into the next round of the famous old competition.

Deadly Edge Seals Comprehensive Win

Three days after surrendering a 2-0 lead in the Premier League, there was a sniff of vulnerability about them going into this potentially tricky tie. The packed home support evidently felt it too, but Rosenior's men navigated the challenge with ease.

The manager rang the changes, enacting multiple of them to his XI. The match might and maybe should have been decided earlier than it eventually was, with both the Brazilian winger and Liam Delap at fault for spurning excellent chances to put their side ahead in the opening period.

However, luckily for the away team, Pedro Neto was in a much more clinical mood. He opened the deadlock with a marvellous distance effort, which proved to be the catalyst for his team to take command of the match. By the final whistle, they had 4 goals, with the forward netting three of them for a brilliant three-goal haul.

Delap's Response and Impact

The home side displayed plenty of fight throughout, but the better chances always fell Chelsea’s way. Estêvão should have broken the deadlock when he went past keeper the Hull stopper before inexplicably firing over. Delap then had a similar horror moment in front of goal against his former club.

He blocked a the goalkeeper's clearance which came back from the crossbar, and Delap started to celebrate believing the ball had crossed the line. It had not, and by the time he realised, Hull's backline had reacted to clear the threat.

The player had his head in his hands after that moment, but he was hugely instrumental from that point onward, registering three key passes. The first was for the opening goal as his pass set up Neto to score from outside the box. Shortly after the second half began, it was two as Neto's corner went straight in through Phillips's legs.

Tie Sealed and Focus Turns

Seven minutes after the second, the tie was put beyond doubt as a dazzling dribble from Delap laid on his teammate to tap into an empty net. The hat-trick hero then completed his hat-trick as Delap once again played the decisive ball for the striker to coolly convert by a stranded goalkeeper.

At that point, the work Hull had put in in the first thirty minutes had long since erased. Their focus must now switch back to securing a promotion to the Premier League under Sergej Jakirovic, who left out several key players with that aim 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 league," he said. "Keep fighting, maybe in the upcoming matches this can be a good lesson of how we should play."

Hull showed great effort to the end, and they almost claimed a late goal when Lewis Koumas struck a post in stoppage time. But this was Chelsea’s evening, and another positive stride for their recently-appointed manager at a place he knows very well.

Cup History Are Promising

The result resulted in an ultimately routine night's performance, and the FA Cup-shaped signs are good from here for the winners. They have faced Hull on three other occasions in this tournament in the past ten years and on each occasion, they have progressed to make the showpiece. There is remains to be done in that respect, but this was another significant tick for Rosenior.