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Hat-trick hero Pedro Neto (left) celebrates with Wesley Fofana after making it 4-0 - Carl Recine/Getty Images
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It was a winning return to the East Riding of Yorkshire for Liam Rosenior, who could claim a slice of revenge after being sacked at Hull City two years ago. His time at Chelsea will be judged on Champions League qualification but how supporters would love a first FA Cup triumph in eight years.
Rosenior is not the type to hold a grudge, and he headed up to the chairman’s suite after this victory to share a drink with Acun Ilicali, who somewhat harshly sacked him two years ago. He has fond memories of his time at the club as a player and manager and family ties too, with his late grandmother a season ticket holder at MKM Stadium.
“His nan is from Hull,” sang the home fans in one of their more family-friendly chants. Rosenior showed his appreciation from the dugout during and after this victory. “It’s mad how life works out,” he said. “It was a sad moment leaving the club. Things work out for a reason and it’s great to see Hull pushing for the Premier League. It was a nice evening.
“I had over 20 of my family here. This club means a lot, not just to me but also my family for many reasons. I really appreciate the reception I got from the club and it was nice to get a good reception from both sets of fans.”
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Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior acknowledges the Hull fans from the dugout - Oli Scarff/Getty Images
Chelsea are now through to the fifth round – three wins from the final – after a hat-trick from Pedro Neto, two of his goals scored with high technical skill and the other from sheer luck. Estêvão Willian also scored in a straightforward evening where Chelsea missed glaring opportunities to score more.
Not many would have predicted Rosenior becoming Chelsea manager within two years when he was dismissed at Hull in 2024. He had saved them from relegation and taken them within sight of the Championship play-offs before Ilicali decided on a change.
It has been just over a month since Rosenior arrived at Chelsea from Strasbourg and it has been a positive start for the 41-year-old, who is unbeaten in the Premier League and looks to have the squad to cope with a Cup run on top of other commitments. He made sweeping changes here and the players drafted in made an impact.
Ilicali has cited playing style as a reason for sacking Rosenior but at Chelsea he has pacy forwards who can break down teams like Hull who were intent on defending in a low block. They are a young team too; this game the 105th in succession they have picked a team with no players over 30.
“The overall positive thing was the application of the team,” said Rosenior. “Our pressing and work rate was exemplified by Pedro Neto, I’m lucky to have such talented players. They are outstanding professionals. It was a professional display. Some of our football was everything I want to see.”
Earlier Liam Delap was guilty of a miss that had Alan Shearer fuming in the TV gantry. “What are you waiting for?” raged Shearer, working as co-commentator on the BBC. Delap had charged down a goal-kick and had an open goal but did not trust his left foot. He still ended up with a hat-trick of assists and was singled out by Rosenior as one of his key performers. “He’s top,” was the head coach’s assessment.
Sergej Jakirovic, the Hull City manager, had suggested his team would be parking the bus to stop Chelsea. “Low block, 100 per cent. No, 1,000 per cent,” he said before the match when describing his tactics. So it would take a moment of quality to get through the amber shirts, which was provided by Neto.
Chelsea had a wall of 11 players in front of them so patiently worked the ball around the edge of the penalty area before finding Neto, who used Regan Slater and John Egan as a guide to bend his finish between the two defenders and into the bottom corner.
Hull struggled to impose themselves on the game, while their fans were also warned over the public-speaker system when “Chelsea rent boys” chants were heard. “This is unacceptable and must cease immediately. We are using CCTV and will identify anyone involved in criminal activity,” they were told.
Neto doubled the lead shortly after the interval when he scored directly from a corner, his inswinger putting Dillon Phillips under pressure and squirming through the goalkeeper’s legs. Rosenior was pointing at set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva in the celebrations, although nutmegging the goalkeeper is hardly a corner routine.
Delap set up the next two goals, firstly racing through and pulling the ball back for Estêvão to finish. He then played a one-two with Neto for the Portuguese forward to complete his hat-trick. With the win wrapped up, Rosenior brought on Jesse Derry, son of ex-QPR player Shaun, for a senior debut.
10:08pm
Hull supporters arrested after homophobic chanting
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Hull City have announced that supporters were arrested during the FA Cup defeat to Chelsea after homophobic chanting from home fans.
Supporters were warned on the PA system that CCTV would be used to identify anyone using discriminatory language after “Chelsea rent boy” chants were heard.
“This is unacceptable and must cease immediately. We are using CCTV and will identify anyone involved in criminal activity,” fans were told in the first half. A further announcement was made to confirm arrests had been made.
Witnesses saw one arrest being made at half-time and a fan being ejected. The flashpoints came days after the Premier League With Pride campaign over the last round of matches over the weekend.
The campaign, promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion in football, replaced the previous Rainbow Laces campaign and was designed to reduce the pressure placed on individual players.
In January 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that it considered the term “rent boy” a homophobic slur and therefore a hate crime. Hull had sent a warning on the eve of the match, with their statement reading: “Ahead of tomorrow’s tie, we want to reaffirm that chanting of a homophobic, racist or discriminatory nature is entirely unacceptable and will not be tolerated inside the MKM Stadium.”
Hull manager Sergej Jakirović said after the match: “It is not good for sure. The stadium is not the place for that.”
09:57pm
Liam Rosenior’s verdict
09:44pm
Liam Delap’s reaction
09:39pm
FT: Hull 0 Chelsea 4
A drama-free night for Liam Rosenior on his return to Hull. Pedro Neto scored his first senior hat-trick, with Estevao getting the other goal in a dominant performance. Once Chelsea took the lead, there was only one winner.
09:36pm
90+2 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 4
Koumas hits the post! Almost a consolation for Hull when Koumas runs onto a long goalkick, turns Tosin and pokes a low shot that is fingertipped onto the post by Sanchez. Excellent save.
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Robert Sanchez made a fine late save. - Scott Heppell/Reuters
09:34pm
90 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 4
Three minutes of added time.
09:33pm
89 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 4
The Hull substitute Gelhardt is booked for a hack at Hato.
09:31pm
88 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 4
Chelsea substitution The impressive Liam Delap is replaced by Shim Mhueka,
09:29pm
85 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 4
Chelsea’s next game is at home to Burnley in the Premier League a week tomorrow.
09:26pm
81 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 4
Hull are pushing for a consolation goal. Giles slaloms into the area from the left and has a low shot kicked round the post by Sanchez.
09:24pm
80 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 4
Hull bring on Kieran Dowell for Cathal McCarthy.
09:24pm
80 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 4
Sanchez charges out of his area to meet Koumas, misses the ball completely and is relieved to see Sarr come round on the cover.
09:21pm
77 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 4
Hull substitutions Cody Drameh and Kyle Joseph come on for Lewie Coyle and Yu Hirakawa.
09:20pm
76 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 4
Double substitution for Chelsea Jesse Derry, a star in the academy who is making his first-team debut, and Tosin Adarabioyo replace Estevao and Wesley Fofana.
09:17pm
73 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 4
Lundstram is booked for a foul.
09:16pm
72 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 4
That’s Pedro Neto’s first hat-trick in senior football.
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Pedro Neto celebrates his hat-trick. - Carl Recine/Getty Images
09:15pm
Goal!
71 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 4 (Neto) A hat-trick for Pedro Neto! It was another classy goal. He received the ball just outside the D, lent it to Delap and then pinged a right-foot drive past Phillips from 15 yards. That’s a hat-trick of assists for Delap as well.
09:13pm
70 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 3
09:10pm
67 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 3
Sarr is booked for delaying the restart.
09:10pm
66 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 3
This could have been an awkward night for Chelsea but they’ve made it look easy. They almost get a fourth when another inswinging corner from Neto is just about kept out by the unsighted Phillips.
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Chelsea celebrate Estevao’s goal that put them 3-0 up. - Carl Recine/Getty Images
09:08pm
64 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 3
Double substitution for Hull Joe Gelhardt and John Lundstram come on for Liam Millar and Amir Hadziahmetovic.
09:04pm
60 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 3
Double substitution for Chelsea Josh Acheampong and Enzo Fernandez replace Reece James and Moises Caicedo.
09:03pm
Goal!
59 min: Hull City 0 Chelsea 3 (Estevao) Game over. Delap spins Egan majestically on the right side of the area, draws the goalkeeper and lays the ball back to give Estevao a simple finish.
09:02pm
Homophobic chants directed at Chelsea
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Fans were warned over the public-speaker system when homophobic chants directed at Chelsea were heard. “This is unacceptable and must cease immediately. We are using CCTV and will identify anyone involved in criminal activity,” they were told.
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Hull supporters were warned about abusive chants. - Carl Recine/Getty Images
08:59pm
56 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 2
Garnacho cuts inside from the left and drills a low shot that is comfortably saved by Phillips. Chelsea are cruising here.
08:56pm
Goal!
51 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 2 (Neto) The resulting corner is swung into the six-yard box by Neto and goes through everyone into the net. There may have been a slight touch off the unsighted keeper Phillips but I think it will go down as Neto’s second goal of the night.
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Chelsea celebrate after taking a 2-0 lead. - Carl Recine/Getty Images
08:54pm
50 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 1
Good save by Phillips! Neto plays a one-two on the right and stands a up a deep cross that is met by Santos. His header takes a slight deflection and is pawed over acrobatically by Phillips.
08:52pm
46 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 1
Back under way; no changes on either side.
08:35pm
HT: Hull 0 Chelsea 1
A comfortable half for Chelsea, who lead through a cracking strike from Pedro Neto. They came close before that, with Estevao shooting wide after going round the keeper and Liam Delap hitting the underside of the bar after charging down a clearance from the Hull keeper Dillon Phillips.
08:34pm
45 min: Wolves 0 Chelsea 1
The goalscorer Pedro Neto is booked for stopping a Hull counter-attack with a tactical foul.
08:30pm
43 min: Wolves 0 Chelsea 1
FA Cup ties can turn very quickly, but right now Chelsea are controlling the game impressively.
08:27pm
Goal!
40 min: Wolves 0 Chelsea 1 (Neto) A touch of class from Pedro Neto, who wallops Chelsea in front from 25 yards. He received a short pass from Delap, worked the space and lashed a superb shot past Phillips with his left foot.
08:23pm
37 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
A tame long-range shot from Santos is blocked by McNair. Chelsea continue to dominate the ball, though the Hull keeper Phillips hasn’t had much to do since that Delap chance.
08:20pm
33 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
Chelsea are controlling the game now and it feels like a matter of time before they take the lead, or at least create another big chance.
08:18pm
30 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
The weather in Hull is pretty vile - rain, snow and wind. It looked reasonably pleasant at kick-off.
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It’s a wild night in Hull. - Lee Smith/Action Images
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Ryan Giles is challenged by Reece James. - Carl Recine/Getty Images
08:13pm
26 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
The TV technology has confirmed it was the correct decision - the ball wasn’t fully over the line, so Delap will regret his decision to stop for a split-second before retrieving the loose ball.
08:11pm
23 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
The replay isn’t conclusive but suggests the ball probably didn’t cross the line when Delap’s block came down off the crossbar.
08:09pm
21 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
Delap hits the bar! What an extraordinary incident. The Hull keeper Phillips has a clearance charged down by Delap, with the ball ricocheting onto the underside of the crossbar. Delap thought it had rebounded over the line and almost gave the ball up, then he realised the goal hadn’t been given. That gave Phillips the chance to get back and save Delap’s follow-up shot.
There’s no goalline technology in use tonight - we haven’t yet seen a replay.
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Dillon Phillips smothers Liam Delap’s shot. - Mike Egerton/PA
08:06pm
19 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
A reminder that there are no replays in the fourth round of the FA Cup. If needs be the match will go to extra-time and penalties.
08:04pm
17 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
Great chance for Estevao! Sarr drives an excellent pass over the defence that is taken in his stride by Estevao. He strolls calmly round the keeper... and then slices wide with his left foot. There was a defender getting back but it was essentially an open goal.
In other news, it has started snowing in Hull - in fact it’s a bit of a blizzard.
08:02pm
16 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
Giles’ cross from the left bounces up awkwardly and is headed over by McCarthy. A very tough chance but Hull are having some good moments in attack.
08:01pm
14 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
It’s an even game so far, with Hull picking their moments to press Chelsea and doing it pretty well.
07:59pm
11 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
James tries to shepherd the ball behind for a goalkick but is robbed by Millar, whose dangerous lower cross is crucially cleared by Sarr.
07:55pm
9 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
Fine save by Phillips! McCarthy nicks the ball off Estevao in the Chelsea half but is in turn robbed by Caicedo, who plays a superb early ball to put Garnacho through on goal in the inside-left channel. His left-foot shot is well saved by Phillips and Neto can’t make proper contact with the rebound.
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Alejandro Garnacho’s shot is saved. - Mike Egerton/PA
07:51pm
5 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
Neto moves into the area, chops outside a defender but then shoots over with his right foot. Tough chance.
07:48pm
2 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
A cross from the left is headed up in the air by Coyle and claimed under pressure by Sanchez. Hull have started well.
07:47pm
2 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
07:46pm
1 min: Hull 0 Chelsea 0
Hull kick off from right to left as we watch.
07:46pm
Time for the action
It looks a chilly night in Hull, nothing too wild, and the players are ready to go.
07:23pm
Liam Rosenior’s pre-match thoughts
07:21pm
McBurnie not in Hull matchday squad
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Hull head coach Sergej Jakirović has also made changes, with six players coming in from defeat to Bristol City last weekend. Lewis Coyle, Ryan Giles, John Egan, Regan Slater and Paddy McNair are the ones who stay in. Oli McBurnie, top goalscorer this season, is not in the matchday squad. With the club chasing promotion to the Premier League, it is a team selection with one eye on the Championship.
07:00pm
Rosenior makes sweeping changes
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Chelsea have a huge gap until their next Premier League game but Liam Rosenior has opted to make sweeping changes to the team that drew against Leeds three days ago. Andrey Santos, Moises Caicedo and Estevao are the only outfield players to keep their place, while Robert Sanchez is also starting for the second time this week. But the other seven players are all drafted in, with Liam Delap facing the team he played for on loan in the 2023-24 season. Rosenior was manager at Hull City that season and was sacked after missing out on the play-offs.
06:58pm
Familiar territory
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Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior was manager of Hull between 2022 and 2024. - OLI SCARFF/AFP
06:46pm
Hull City team news
Sergej Jakirovic also rotates his promotion-chasing squad, with six changes from the 3-2 defeat at home to Bristol City. Dillon Phillips, Cathal McCarthy, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Lewis Koumas, Yu Hirakawa and Liam Millar all start.
06:46pm
Chelsea team news
Liam Rosenior has made seven changes from the 2-2 draw with Leeds on Tuesday. Mamadou Sarr, recalled from a loan spell with Rosenior’s old club Strasbourg, starts in defence. Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato, Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho and Liam Delap also return to the side.
Cole Palmer, who missed an open goal at the death against Leeds, is not in the matchday squad.
06:44pm
This weekend’s FA Cup fixtures
- Hull City v Chelsea (Fri, 7.45pm)
- Wrexham v Ipswich (Fri, 7.45pm)
- Burton v West Ham (Sat, 12.15pm)
- Burnley v Mansfield (Sat, 3pm)
- Man City v Salford (Sat, 3pm)
- Norwich v West Brom (Sat, 3pm)
- Southampton v Leicester (Sat, 3pm)
- Aston Villa v Newcastle (Sat, 5.45pm)
- Liverpool v Brighton (Sat, 8pm)
- Birmingham v Leeds (Sun, 12pm)
- Grimsby v Wolves (Sun, 1.30pm)
- Oxford v Sunderland (Sun, 2pm)
- Stoke v Fulham (Sun, 2pm)
- Arsenal v Wigan (Sun, 4.30pm)
- Macclesfield v Brentford (Mon, 7.30pm)
- Port Vale v Bristol City has been postponed
06:17pm
Good evening
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Hull City v Chelsea in the fourth round of the FA Cup. As well as being an awkward tie for Chelsea, against a team pushing for promotion to the Premier League under Sergej Jakirovic, it’s a big night for the Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior. He returns to the club he managed between 2022 and 2024, his first full-time job.
“If it wasn’t for Hull, and [club owner] Acun [Ilicali] in particular, giving me that opportunity, I wouldn’t be in the situation I’m in now,” said Rosenior. “I’ve had great experiences since, going to Strasbourg, going to France. So I’m definitely a better coach than I was two years ago and hopefully I’ll be a better coach in the next two years to come.”
Rosenior also spent five years as a player at the club and was part of the team that lost the FA Cup final to Arsenal in 2014. “I remember when I went to Hull on trial, I was without a contract, and the way I told my nanny Kath was I took her to the local Harvester, sat her down, and said I’m going to sign for Hull City. That was amazing. She was a season-ticket holder already.
“Sadly she passed away. She’s buried in Cottingham Cemetery, which is less than a mile from the training ground. When I took the manager’s job at Hull, it was pretty much a year to the day that we had her funeral.
“I used to go to Hull when I was a little boy in the summer holidays when she lived there. I grew up there for my summer holidays, went to Boothferry Park in the summer to watch them play. It’s strange that I’m from London but I have a connection with Hull.”
That won’t change, but it’s Rosenior’s connection with Chelsea that is most important tonight.
Kick off 7.45pm
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