Chelsea vs Hull City: Even without cup specialist Batshuayi the Blues should easily tame the Tigers

Chelsea vs Hull City: Even without cup specialist Batshuayi the Blues should easily tame the Tigers

Monday’s league victory over West Brom took some of the pressure off Antonio Conte, but only a win will do for Chelsea against Championship side Hull City

Chelsea and Hull haven’t met in the FA Cup since December 1999

Hull have likely erased the memory of their last FA Cup meeting with Chelsea. The Blues won 6-1 away from home back in December 1999, a result that remains their biggest away win in the competition; it’s also the only time they’ve scored six goals on the road in the FA Cup. That 6-1 win was Chelsea’s third successive FA Cup victory at Hull, but the Tigers’ last defeat in the competition at Chelsea came in 1910. Since then, they have drawn both of their FA Cup trips to Stamford Bridge.

Bet on a draw

Hull have failed to win any of their 22 trips to Stamford Bridge in any competition

Indeed, Chelsea have won 17 and drawn five of their 22 home games against Hull, including each of the last four encounters. Most recently, the hosts ran out 2-0 winners in the Premier League in January last year thanks to goals from Diego Costa and Gary Cahill. At home and away, Chelsea have won 12 of their last 14 games against Hull, last losing in a second division away match in October 1988. What’s more, the Tigers have failed to score in five of their last six meetings with Chelsea, losing all five of those games by a 2-0 scoreline.

Bet on Chelsea to win 2-0

Chelsea have progressed from nine of their last ten fifth round ties

When Chelsea get to the fifth round, it’s usually a sign they are taking the FA Cup seriously. Their only defeat in their last ten fifth round ties came against Manchester City in 2014. Coincidentally, Hull reached the final that year, surrendering a two-goal lead and losing 3-2 against Arsenal at Wembley. In fact, Hull have won only three of their last 19 FA Cup ties against top-flight opponents. Chelsea will be confident of dispatching the visitors on Friday.

Bet on Chelsea to win

Hull have kept four clean sheets in their last seven matches

Nigel Adkins’ impact at Hull since taking over is best represented by the Championship side’s improved defensive record; they have kept the same number of clean sheets in their last seven games (4) as they had in their previous 30 outings. Of course, Chelsea are an altogether different level of opponent to the teams Hull have been facing in recent weeks. The Blues have scored 127 goals in in their last 44 FA Cup home matches – that’s an average of 2.9 goals per game. It’s safe to say Adkins’ men have their work cut out for them.

Bet on Chelsea with a handicap

Michy Batshuayi has scored 75% of Chelsea’s FA Cup goals this season

On transfer deadline day, Chelsea allowed the player responsible for their FA Cup progress – Batshuayi has scored three of their four goals in the competition this term – leave for Borussia Dortmund. With that in mind, either Alvaro Morata or Olivier Giroud will lead the line against Hull, both of whom are yet to find the net in any competition in 2018. If that continues, Conte might have to rely on Eden Hazard to get Chelsea firing. The Belgian has scored three of the Blues’ last four goals.

Bet on Hazard to score first

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