Chelsea smushed Championship side Hull City to reach the FA CUP fifth round. Michy Batshuayi and Fikayo Tomori scored in either half to award the Blues a win.
Chelsea took an early lead when Batshuayi’s strike deflected off Hull’s Ryan Tafazolli. The ball flew beyond wrong-footed goalkeeper George Long.
The Blues dominated the rest of the half with Long required to make a series of good saves. But after the break, the Championship side enjoyed a spell of domination where they threatened an equalizer.
Herbie Kane failed to make the most of a free-kick. Meanwhile, Jarrod Bowen had the Chelsea defense scrambling with a piercing run but put his shot just over the bar.
Hull City’s hopes were knocked. Though, when Chelsea added a second from a free-kick as Tomori nodded in Ross Barkley’s delivery for his second goal for Frank Lampard’s side.
Chelsea twice went close to adding a third through Pedro. Pedro first placed an effort just wide of the far post before clipping an effort over the goalkeeper only for the ball to land in the side-netting.
Instead, Hull scored to set up a tense finale. Kamil Grosicki’s free-kick from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection to land in the back of the net.
However, Chelsea held on to edge victory and ensure their place in Monday’s fifth-round draw.
Batshuayi stakes his claim
With Tammy Abraham out, Chelsea rumored to be considering striker options before the transfer window closes on Friday.
This game represented a big chance for Batshuayi to prove to Lampard that he can have a part to play.
The Belgian striker struggled to force his way into the first-team. Most of the 26-year-old’s time at Stamford Bridge has been spent away on loan. But despite his limited starts, his strike rate at the Blues is still impressive, averaging a goal every 92 minutes.
It took Batshuayi six minutes to get on the scoresheet against Hull City. While there was a big slice of fortune about the goal, the striker had positioned himself well in the build-up. He drifted away from his opponents to give him ample space to get the shot off.
Nonetheless, Batshuayi failed to build on that. He was largely quiet for the rest of the game with his most significant contribution a near post-block to cut out a dangerous Hull free-kick.