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Against a backdrop of sleet, flurries, and a biting wind from the banks of the Humber, alongside a resolute Hull City side pushing hard for promotion, this had all the makings of a difficult evening’s task for the visitors.

"We could have added to our tally but Hull are a strong team and it was a tough fixture; I’m very pleased with the display," the manager stated. "Hull City means a lot to me so it was nice to get a positive welcome from the fans of supporters. The attitude of the players was superb."

Liam Chelsea manager has this city close to his heart, given part of his family are from Hull and his successful period in management of the Tigers. This happy association was extended with a magnificent display from his team, who ultimately sauntered into the next round of the FA Cup.

Deadly Finishing Seals Comfortable Win

Seventy-two hours after surrendering a two-goal advantage in the Premier League, there was a hint of vulnerability about Chelsea going into this potentially tricky cup clash. The packed home support evidently felt it too, but the London side navigated the task with ease.

The manager made alterations, making multiple of them to his starting lineup. The match might and maybe should have been decided earlier than it actually was, with two the Brazilian winger and the forward at fault for missing 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 broke the scoring with a marvellous distance strike, which proved to be the catalyst for Chelsea to assume control of proceedings. By full time, they had four, with the forward scoring a trio of them for a brilliant three-goal haul.

Delap's Response and Influence

The home side showed great spirit all game, but the better chances consistently came Chelsea’s way. Estêvão should have opened the deadlock when he rounded keeper Dillon Phillips before inexplicably firing over. Delap then had a similar nightmare incident in front of goal against his former club.

He deflected a the goalkeeper's clearance which came off the bar, and he started to run away thinking the ball had gone over 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 hugely instrumental from that point onward, registering three assists. The opening was for the first goal as his pass set up his teammate to finish from outside the box. Shortly after the second half began, it was 2-0 as Neto's set-piece went straight in through Phillips's legs.

Tie Sealed and Focus Turns

Soon after Neto’s second, the tie was put beyond doubt as a magnificent dribble from the forward teed up his teammate to slide into an unguarded goal. The hat-trick hero then completed his treble as Delap once again delivered the decisive ball for the striker to coolly convert by a stranded Phillips.

At that point, the work Hull had put in in the opening thirty minutes had been forgotten. Their priority must now return to achieving a return to the top division under their manager, who rested several first-choice players 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 league," he said. "Never surrender, maybe in the upcoming matches this can be a good lesson of how we must play."

Hull showed great effort to the final whistle, and they nearly got a late goal when a substitute hit a post in injury time. But this was Chelsea’s night, and another positive step forward for their recently-appointed manager at a place he is familiar with very well.

Cup Omens Look Promising

The result resulted in an in the end straightforward evening’s performance, and the cup competition signs are good from here for Chelsea. They have played Hull on three other times in this tournament in the past ten years and every single time, they have progressed to make the showpiece. Much remains to be done in that respect, but this was another significant tick for the Chelsea boss.