Adkins: Let’s learn the lessons
NIGEL Adkins said his Hull City side face 15 cup finals in the league after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. lesson for some of the younger players – you cannot give the ball away cheaply – but the players showed great spirit in the second half because there is a spirit around ourselves.”
Hull, who travel to Middlesbrough on Tuesday, had lost their previous six matches against Chelsea, so Friday’s tie was always going to be a tough challenge.
The Tigers sit just one point off the relegation zone and were forced into several changes due to injuries and three players – Ola Aine, Fikayo Tomori and Michael Hector – being on loan from Chelsea and therefore ineligible.
The home side struck early as Willian, who was outstanding for the hosts, curled in a leftfooted shot from the edge of the area after just two minutes.
The Championship strugglers found themselves 4-0 down before half-time thanks to goals from Pedro, Olivier Giroud and two for Willian.
David Meyler had a chance to pull one back for the visitors in the second half from the penalty spot, but saw his effort saved by Willy Caballero
Adkins said: “They were very good in the first half. We gifted them some positions but we knew it was going to be a tough ask.
“We were not close enough in the first half, but the second half was a totally different story.
“We could have taken the foot off the gas, but we were a lot more assertive, the players responded in a positive manner and we have 15 cup finals now.
“It was good character. We came with a game plan that went out of the window within two minutes. It’s a great learning
Chelsea kept David Marshall busy in the Hull goal and doubled their lead after 27 minutes. Cesc Fabregas played a glorious first-time ball over the Hull defenders into Pedro’s path, and he slotted home calmly.
Willian then scored his second, latching onto a pass from Giroud and bending a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner off the inside of the post.
Giroud completed the scoring on 42 minutes, stabbing home Emerson Palmieri’s pull-back.
Hull’s best chance came in the second half when Fabregas brought down Harry Wilson in the area, but Caballero dived to his right and got two hands to Meyler’s powerful penalty.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, whose side host Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, said: “It was a good performance. To score four goals in the first half was great for us, but the most important thing is that we have made it through to the next round.
“Our start was impressive. We started with great focus, great concentration and great will to score.
“It was a positive night because of the opportunity to rest three key players before the game against Barcelona on Tuesday, which is important.
“Now we have three days to try and make the best decision.
“We lost two bad games, especially the one against Watford, but we played that at the end of a very busy period.
“Now we have confidence, but have to play some massive games in the next two weeks.
“We must be strong, but we are ready.”