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Against a backdrop of freezing rain, flurries, and a swirling wind from the waters of the Humber Estuary, alongside a resolute home side fighting for a top-flight place, this presented all the makings of a difficult night's task for the visitors.

"We could have scored more but Hull are a strong team and it was a tough fixture; I’m delighted with the display," the manager stated. "This club means a lot to me so it was nice to get a good reception from the fans of supporters. The attitude of the lads was excellent."

Liam Rosenior holds this place dear to him, given some of his family are from Hull and his enjoyable period in charge of the Tigers. This happy connection continued with a magnificent display from his team, who ultimately sauntered into the next round of the famous old competition.

Clinical Finishing Seals Comfortable Victory

Seventy-two hours removed from letting slip a two-goal advantage in the league, there was a hint of fragility about Chelsea going into this intriguing tie. The packed Hull support clearly felt it too, but the London side handled the challenge perfectly.

Rosenior made alterations, enacting multiple of them to his starting lineup. The tie might and perhaps ought to have been decided long before it actually was, with both Estêvão Willian and Liam Delap guilty of spurning glorious chances to put their side ahead in the first half.

However, luckily for the away team, Pedro Neto was in a far more clinical mood. He broke the deadlock with a marvellous long-range effort, which proved to be the catalyst for his team to assume control of proceedings. By the final whistle, they had four, with Neto netting three of them for a brilliant three-goal haul.

The Forward's Redemption and Impact

Hull showed plenty of spirit throughout, but the better chances always fell Chelsea’s way. Estêvão ought to have broken the deadlock when he rounded goalkeeper the Hull stopper before unbelievably firing over. Delap then had a similar horror incident in front of goal against his old team.

He blocked a the goalkeeper's clearance which came back from the bar, and he began to run away believing the ball had crossed the line. It had not, and by the time he understood, Hull's backline had reacted to clear the danger.

The player had his head in his hands after that moment, but he was immensely influential from that point onward, registering 3 assists. The opening was for the opening goal as his through ball teed up his teammate to finish from outside the box. Six minutes after the second half began, it was two as Neto's set-piece went straight in through the keeper's legs.

Contest Put Beyond Doubt and Focus Shifts

Seven minutes after the second, the match was effectively ended as a magnificent run from Delap laid on his teammate to slide into an unguarded goal. The hat-trick hero then completed his hat-trick as the provider once again played the decisive pass for the striker to calmly convert past a stranded Phillips.

By that stage, the work Hull had done in the first thirty minutes had been erased. Their priority must now switch back to achieving a return to the Premier League under their manager, who rested a number of first-choice individuals with that goal in mind.

"I think we earned at least one goal but if we play like this we will be in a very good position in the league," he said. "Keep fighting, maybe in the upcoming matches this can be a positive example of how we should play."

Hull showed plenty of endeavour to the end, and they almost claimed a consolation when a substitute struck a the upright in stoppage time. But this was Chelsea’s night, and another positive stride for their new manager at a stadium he knows very well.

FA Cup Omens Are Promising

The result made for an in the end straightforward evening’s work, and the FA Cup-shaped signs are good from here for Chelsea. They have played Hull on three other occasions in this competition in the last decade and every single time, they have gone on to reach the showpiece. Much still done in that respect, but this was another significant tick for the Chelsea boss.