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Against a backdrop of sleet, flurries, and a biting breeze off the banks of the Humber Estuary, alongside a determined home side fighting for a top-flight place, this had all the ingredients of a challenging evening’s work for Chelsea.

"We could have added to our tally but Hull are a good team and it was a tough fixture; I’m very pleased with the display," he said. "Hull City means a lot to me so it was great to get a good welcome from both sets of fans. The application of the players was excellent."

The Rosenior holds this city close to his heart, considering part of his family hail from Hull and his successful spell in management of the Tigers. This positive connection continued with a magnificent display from his squad, who in the end sauntered into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Deadly Finishing Seals Comprehensive Win

Seventy-two hours removed from surrendering a two-goal lead in the league, there was a sniff of fragility about them going into this intriguing tie. The packed Hull crowd clearly felt it too, but Rosenior's men navigated the task with ease.

The manager made alterations, making seven of them to his XI. The match could and perhaps ought to have been settled long before it eventually was, with both Estêvão Willian and the forward guilty of missing glorious chances to put their side ahead in the opening period.

But, fortunately for the away team, Pedro Neto was in a much more ruthless mood. He broke the scoring with a marvellous distance effort, which acted as the spark for his team to assume command of proceedings. By full time, they had 4 goals, with Neto scoring three of them for a superb hat-trick.

The Forward's Response and Influence

Hull showed plenty of spirit all game, but the better opportunities always fell Chelsea’s way. Estêvão ought to have opened the scoring when he rounded keeper the Hull stopper before inexplicably shooting over. The striker then had a comparable horror incident in front of goal against his former club.

He deflected a Phillips's clearance which bounced back from the bar, and Delap started to celebrate believing the ball had gone over the line. It had not, and by the time he understood, Hull's defenders had responded to avert the threat.

Delap had his head in his hands after that miss, but he was hugely influential from there on out, providing 3 key passes. The first was for the opening goal as his through ball set up Neto to score from range. Shortly after the second half began, it was two as the forward's set-piece went directly in through the keeper's legs.

Tie Put Beyond Doubt and Attention Shifts

Soon after Neto’s second, the match was put beyond doubt as a dazzling dribble from the forward teed up Estêvão to slide into an empty net. The hat-trick hero then completed his treble as the provider once again delivered the crucial ball for the attacker to coolly slot by a stranded Phillips.

At that point, the effort Hull had put in in the opening thirty minutes had long since erased. Their priority must now switch back to achieving a return to the top division under Sergej Jakirovic, who left out a number of key individuals with that goal in mind.

"I think we deserved at least one goal but if we perform like this we will be in a strong situation in the Championship," the Hull manager commented. "Keep fighting, maybe in the next games this can be a positive lesson of how we must play."

Hull showed plenty of endeavour to the end, and they nearly got a consolation when Lewis Koumas hit a the upright in stoppage time. But this was the Blues' night, and another encouraging stride for their new manager at a place he is familiar with intimately.

Cup History Are Good

That made for an in the end straightforward night's performance, and the cup competition signs are good from here for Chelsea. They have played Hull on three other times in this competition in the past ten years and on each occasion, they have gone on to make the showpiece. Much remains to be work in that regard, but this was another significant tick for Rosenior.