HULL CITY 0-2 CHELSEA: DIEGO COSTA INSPIRES BLUES AS PRESSURE EASES ON ANTONIO CONTE - 5 THINGS WE LEARNED

Chelsea got back to winning ways in the league over Hull thanks to two second-half goals in six minutes from Willian and Diego Costa.

The Blues arrived at Hull after successive league defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal which punctured some of their early-season optimism.

But they eventually had too much class for Hull as they secured a comfortable win at the KCOM Stadium.

Conte responded to Chelsea's poor, recent defensive showings by dropping Branislav Ivanovic and switching to a three-man defence.

And after a lacklustre first-half display Chelsea finally came to life after the break.

Willian broke the deadlock with a fine curling finish just after the hour and a carbon copy strike from Diego Costa sealed all three points for Antonio Conte's men.

Willian scored the crucial goal to break the deadlock

Antonio Conte celebrated wildly as his Blues grabbed the lead

Diego Costa scored the second to give Chelsea breathing room

                             1. Conte's opts for what he knows best

 

Antonio Conte started with a three-man defence for the first time, a setup that has served him well in the past with both Juventus and Italy.

Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz and Gary Cahill made up the back-line with Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso providing the width and energy on the flanks.

At times the three became a back five to give Chelsea even more security and bodies in front of Thibaut Courtois.

Costa grabbed a goal to double the Blues' lead

Diego Costa celebrates scoring the second goal

 

N'Golo Kante in action with Markus Henriksen

2. Ivanovic's Blues future is bleak

Antonio Conte could have signalled the beginning of the end for Branislav Ivanovic.Conte became the first manager to drop Ivanovic because of poor form since AndreVillas-Boas.

It has been coming with Ivanovic struggling for form since the start of last season
Chelsea kept a clean sheet, admittedly against a side who were not the most threatening, and looked a lot more solid without him.
Given the success of the setup, and with his contract up at the end of the season, it would be no surprise if Ivanovic is starting to fear the worst.

Marcos Alonso made his first Premier League start for the Blues

 

Antonio Conte grabbed a huge win to ease pressure on his side

Willian celebrates scoring the opener in Chelsea's win at Hull

Eden Hazard dances away from David Meyler

  3. Conte's half time team-talk works a treat

Antonio Conte called his players “spineless” at half-time last week as they trailed 3-0 at Arsenal.

There was no fight-back at the Emirates but whatever he said at the break at Hull worked a treat.

After a sluggish first-half display Chelsea looked transformed in the second half and played with an energy and intensity that was missing in the opening 45 minutes and simply too much for Hull.

The two goals and three points were, in the end, fully deserved.

Conte was seen barking instructions throughout the game

Willian grabbed his second of the season against the Tigers

4. International break well-timed for Hull

After three wins in their opening four games, Hull have won just one of the subsequent five.

The raft of new signings who arrived on deadline day haven't had the desired effect of helping them build on their promising start to the season.

Their defending hasn't helped either. After shipping a total of nine goals against Arsenal and Liverpool they shot themselves in the foot with sloppy defending for both of Chelsea's goals.

They now have two weeks off before their trip to Bournemouth and the international break looks like being an ideal opportunity for them to try and regroup.

 

Curtis Davies challenges Diego Costa in the air

Robert Snodgrass reacts after a near miss for the hosts

Chelsea celebrated wildly after breaking the deadlock

5. Conte a fan of Moses

At times it has been easy to forget that Victor Moses is still a Chelsea player but there is something about him that Antonio Conte likes.

After being loaned out for the last three seasons, Conte has chosen to keep Nigerian winger Moses at Stamford Bridge this season.

And he handed Moses his first Chelsea league start since May 11 2013 against Hull. If Moses continues to impress he may even force his way into Conte's starting line-up.

Victor Moses received another chance from Conte

Nemanja Matic tracks back against Snodgrass in a bid to pinch possession.

Diego Costa and David Luiz stretch while defending a corner

 

Ratings

Hull: Marshall 6; Meyler 6, Livermore 5, Davies 5, Robertson 6; Clucas 7 (Huddlestone 82, 5); Snodgrass 7, Mason 6, Henriksen 5 (Hernandez 73, 5), Diomande 5 (Maloney 64, 5); Mbokani 6. 

Unused: Jakupovic, Maguire, Weir, Keane.

Chelsea: Courtois 7; Azpilicueta 7, Cahill 6, Luiz 6; Moses 6, Kante 7, Matic 6; Moses 7 (Pedro 86, 5), Alonso 7; Willian 7 (Chalobah 89, 5), Hazard 7 (Oscar 81, 5); Costa MOTM 7. 

Unused: Begovic, Ivanovic, Fabregas, Batshuayi.

Source : Mirror