GIROUD OFF MARK IN TIGERS MAULING
CHELSEA 4 HULL CITY 0
BRAZIL star Willian helped Chelsea enjoy the perfect warm-up for Barcelona.
The Blues barely had to break sweat to beat Hull, were able to put their feet up by half time, and get ready for Tuesday’s Champions League showdown.
They played some lovely stuff in the process, and it was Willian who really stole the show with two super goals and some brilliant flicks and tricks.
Willian was outstanding as he looked to give Antonio Conte a selection dilemma ahead of the Barcelona first leg, even if it was difficult to make much of a judgement against Hull.
This was not a great advert for the FA Cup, and perhaps it says much about the draw that BT Sport even chose to televise it, as Hull have got bigger priorities in trying to avoid successive relegations.
There was little chance of an upset, let alone any cup romance, as Tigers boss Nigel Adkins made seven changes and the team he sent out put up little or no fight and were awful.
In fact, you knew the game was over as a contest within two minutes, from the moment Willian got the opening goal.
Olivier Giroud dispossessed Kevin Stewart in midfield, the ball broke to Willian, and he charged forward before unleashing a brilliant angled shot, which flew into the top corner.
Chelsea’s early lead allowed them to relax and put on a show for the supporters, one which will go a long way to further lift the mood as Conte’s men strolled into the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Giroud, Pedro and Cesc Fabregas all had chances before Chelsea got a second after 27 minutes.
Giroud’s lay-off found Fabregas and the pass master unleashed a wonderful through-ball for Pedro to race clear and then fire a low shot past Hull keeper David Marshall.
Five minutes later, Willian got his second and Chelsea’s third, after another slack piece of play from Stewart, who was having a complete nightmare. Willian broke forward and hit a 20-yard shot which went in off the post.
Stewart was lucky only to get a yellow card for a blatant elbow on Gary Cahill and, bearing in mind the Chelsea captain had paid a warm tribute in his programme notes to Ryan Mason after his retirement, it seemed a particularly badly-timed foul.
Blues new-boy Emerson set up the fourth, as the £17.5million left-back tricked his way down the flank, and pulled the ball back for Giroud to fire home his first goal for the hosts.
Conte substituted Pedro at half time for Callum HudsonOdoi, which perhaps gives a clue that he is being saved for Barcelona.
Hull had the chance of a consolation, but even blew that. Fabregas brought down City’s Harry Wilson to concede a penalty, but Chelsea keeper Willy Caballero saved David Meyler’s spot-kick.