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Do not make the mistake of assuming this was a backs-to-the-wall effort from Hull. Their remarkable start to the season goes on and a point was the least Sergej Jakirovic’s side deserved after they pushed Chelsea to the limit in an absorbing game.
This was the first time Chelsea have dominated possession in a league game this season and it did not lead to anything pretty. Xabi Alonso’s attack was contained for long spells, even though goals from Morgan Rogers and João Pedro ended Hull’s spotless defensive record, and the Spaniard’s side remain a mess without the ball. Chelsea are conceding at a rate of two a game and saw their winless run in home games against promoted sides stretched to five after Mohamed Belloumi twice punished defensive errors during the first half.
A rejig from Alonso, whose omission of Maxence Lacroix in central defence enabled a switch from a back three to a 4-2-3-1 system, did not work. It was a bold move from Chelsea’s manager and the early signs were encouraging. Chelsea made a fast start and were ahead after leaving four players forward at a Hull corner in the seventh minute. A scorching counterattacking ended with Rogers taking a pass from João Pedro and smashing a low shot inside Konstantinos Tzolakis’s near post after skipping round Regan Slater on the left.
Hull’s hopes of dragging Chelsea into a grind appeared to be over. Having to chasing an equaliser against the league’s most potent counterattacking seemed less than ideal. It was set up for Chelsea to push for more and they looked comfortable at first, going close to doubling their lead when Pedro Neto drew a save from Tzolakis with a shot from the right.
Perhaps it was too simple for Chelsea. Unable to detect danger, they dozed off when Tzolakis launched a clearance into their own half. Malo Gusto failed to deal with the loose ball and was muscled off it by Ryan Giles. The Hull left-back was able to hook a cross to the far post and when Jorrel Hato misjudged the bounce Belloumi was free to smash a clinical shot past Emi Martínez.
Rattled, Chelsea forgot how to do the basics. They were too open and lacked alertness off the ball. Hull attacked again, another ball from the left causing confusion. Belloumi flicked it on and Lewie Coyle, whose run went untracked by Rogers, saw his low shot deflected behind by Levi Colwill’s goalline clearance.
Still there was no response from Chelsea, who were a mess while trying to deal with the resulting corner. Martínez flapped at the cross, Semi Ajayi headed against the bar and Belloumi was brimming with confidence when the ball dropped to him. The Algerian shot first time and was rewarded for his decisiveness when it beat Martínez thanks to a deflection.
Chelsea spent the rest of the opening period banging their heads against an orange and black wall. Alonso, who inspired a comeback against Leeds in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday by giving his players a half-time rollocking, responded by replacing Hato with Pep Chavarría during the interval.
Hull began the second half in containment mode. The crosses came in but Ajayi and Nobel Mendy were in towering form. Reece James almost equalised, Tzolakis saving the captain’s free-kick, but Chelsea were finding it difficult to create in open play.
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The frustration grew, Hull’s timewasting at goal-kicks and throw-ins testing the patience. There was a delay after a nasty clash of heads between João Pedro and Mendy, who made way for Lucas Herrington. It was a setback for Hull but they continued to defend with extraordinary commitment and almost extended their lead. Martínez mishandled a shot from Slater and did well to block from Oli McBurnie on the rebound.
It was a pivotal moment. Chelsea soon levelled, Cole Palmer stirring and lifting his team. The No 10 drove down the left, Hull surprised by the directness, and his cutback was perfectly placed for João Pedro to equalise with a rising shot.
Chelsea still lacked control. Alonso looked to shift the dynamic, Danny Welbeck partnering João Pedro in attack after replacing Gusto. Welbeck’s presence quickly led to a chance for Palmer, who curled over from a promising position. Palmer then found Rogers but Tzolakis denied the £117m man.
Jakirovic continued to show his smarts. Hull’s substitutes gave them a threat. Brooke Norton-Cuffy had a shot blocked after a surge and Mohamed-Ali Cho missed a sitter during the dying stages, shooting straight at Martínez from close range. Hull, who are third, could have nicked it.
