adminHULL CITY. — It was not the sweetest strike you’ll see. Not the sweetest strike of the game, in fact, but Loic Remy’s prod towards goal eluded Allan McGregor and tightened Chelsea’s grip with 3-2 win over Hull City at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
Jose Mourinho may one day reflect on this contribution from a player he has been reluctant to use since signing him last summer from Queen’s Park Rangers as the moment when the title was secured.
Cesc Fabregas rolled a pass to Willian, who chopped it towards Remy and, less than two minutes after coming off the bench to replace Diego Costa, Remy jabbed at the ball tentatively with his left foot.
Somehow it wriggled through McGregor and squirmed over the line and Mourinho’s team held on for the win, something they have not always done well since the turn of the year and the self-doubt was evident.
Chelsea had been two up inside nine minutes at Hull through Eden Hazard and Costa, but they were pegged level by goal before half-time by Ahmed Elmohamady and Abel Hernandez and wobbled badly during this spell.
Only 78 seconds had passed when Hazard opened the scoring, collecting a lay-off from Costa and driving across the pitch on a diagonal run, before striking for goal with his left foot.
The ball sailed beyond the dive of Allan McGregor and inside the post. It was a remarkable opening by the Premier League leaders, and something of a statement for those who think they might still catch them at the top. But the frailties which have offered hope to the chasing pack were in evidence.
Hernandez ought to have equalised almost immediately when he was played onside by Ivanovic as he latched onto a flick from Dame N’Doye. The Uruguayan was clean through, with all the time in the world but Courtois stood his ground and blocked the shot with his body.
When Costa made it 2-0, the contest seemed to be settled. Again, it was a splendid goal, lashed past poor McGregor from an angle. For the £32 million Chelsea striker, it was the 20th of his debut season in England.
The goals have dried up since the turn of the year, but this was his second in successive games. Even so, his temper simmered. There was a confrontation with Alex Bruce, when he accused the Hull manager’s son of swiping his legs away.
Then there was the flashpoint in the second half, when Livermore reacted furious to an elbow in his face from Costa as they jostled at a Chelsea corner.
Referee Michael Oliver did not see it, as he had not seen Costa’s stamp on Emre Can during the Capital One Cup semi-final. The pair have history going back to Costa’s first game in English football when the same referee booked him for a dive at Burnley.
Courtois saved twice from N’Doye and, at two goals down, Bruce made his switch. Having started the game with three at the back, he went to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Paul McShane moving to right-back to police Hazard and N’Doye to the left-wing.
It swamped the midfield, but did not stop Andy Robertson charging forward from left-back to create the first Hull goal.
Robertson sped past Ivanovic and produced a swerving low cross, which Elmohamady converted, beating Filipe Luis to the ball. — Mailonline.
Online Reporter