Pedro Neto Fires Treble as The Blues Provide Manager Rosenior with Joyous Return to Hull

Against a backdrop of sleet, flurries, and a swirling wind off the banks of the Humber Estuary, alongside a resolute home side pushing hard for promotion, this presented all the makings of a challenging evening’s task for the visitors.

"We might have scored more but Hull are a strong team and it was a tough fixture; I am delighted with the display," the manager stated. "This club is very special to me so it was great to get a good reception from both sets of fans. The attitude of the lads was excellent."

The Rosenior has this place dear to him, considering part of his family hail from Hull and his successful spell in charge of the Tigers. This positive 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 Win

Three days after letting slip a 2-0 lead in the Premier League, there was a hint of vulnerability about them going into this potentially tricky cup clash. The packed home support clearly felt it too, but Rosenior's men handled the task perfectly.

The manager rang the changes, enacting seven of them to his XI. The match might and maybe should have been settled long before it eventually was, with both Estêvão Willian and the forward at fault for missing glorious opportunities to put their side ahead in the opening period.

However, fortunately for the visitors, Pedro Neto was in a much more clinical frame of mind. He broke the deadlock with a spectacular long-range strike, which acted as the spark for his team to assume control of the match. By full time, they had four, with the forward netting three of them for a superb hat-trick.

The Forward's Redemption and Influence

Hull displayed great spirit throughout, but the better opportunities consistently came Chelsea’s way. The winger should have broken the scoring when he went past goalkeeper the Hull stopper before unbelievably shooting over. The striker then had a comparable horror incident in front of goal against his old team.

He deflected a the goalkeeper's clearance which bounced off the bar, and he started to celebrate believing the ball had crossed the line. It hadn’t, and by the time he realised, Hull's backline had responded to clear the threat.

The player had his head in his hands after that moment, but he was hugely instrumental from that point onward, providing three key passes. The first was for the opening goal as his through ball set up his teammate to finish from outside the box. Shortly after the second half began, it was two as Neto's corner went directly in through Phillips's legs.

Tie Put Beyond Doubt and Focus Shifts

Soon after the second, the tie was effectively ended as a dazzling dribble from Delap teed up his teammate to slide into an empty net. Neto then completed his hat-trick as the provider once again played the decisive pass for the attacker to calmly convert past a stranded Phillips.

By that stage, the effort Hull had put in in the opening half-hour had long since forgotten. Their priority must now return to securing a return to the top division under their manager, who left out several first-choice individuals with that aim in mind.

"I think we deserved at least one goal but if we play like this we will be in a very good position in the Championship," he said. "Keep fighting, maybe in the upcoming games this can be a positive lesson of how we must play."

There was plenty of effort to the final whistle, and they nearly claimed a consolation when Lewis Koumas hit a post in injury time. But this was the Blues' night, and another positive step forward for their new manager at a place he knows intimately.

FA Cup History Look Promising

The result resulted in an ultimately straightforward night's performance, and the FA Cup-shaped omens are positive from here for Chelsea. They have played Hull on three previous times in this competition in the past ten years and on each occasion, they have progressed to make the showpiece. Much remains to be work in that regard, but this was another huge positive for Rosenior.