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Against a backdrop of freezing rain, flurries, and a biting breeze off the waters of the Humber, combined with a determined Hull City side fighting for a top-flight place, this presented all the makings of a difficult night's task for the visitors.

"We might have added to our tally but the opposition are a strong team and it was a difficult fixture; I am very pleased with the performance," the manager stated. "Hull City means a lot to me so it was great to get a positive reception from the fans of fans. The application of the players was excellent."

Liam Rosenior has this place close to his heart, considering part of his relatives hail from Hull and his successful spell in management of the Championship club. His happy connection continued with a magnificent display from his squad, who in the end sauntered into the next round of the FA Cup.

Deadly Finishing Seals Comprehensive Victory

Three days after letting slip a two-goal advantage in the Premier League, there was a hint of vulnerability about Chelsea going into this intriguing tie. The capacity Hull crowd clearly sensed it too, but the London side handled the task perfectly.

The manager made alterations, making seven of them to his starting lineup. The tie might and maybe should have been settled earlier than it eventually was, with two the Brazilian winger and Liam Delap guilty of missing glorious opportunities to put Chelsea ahead in the first half.

But, luckily for the visitors, Pedro Neto was in a much more clinical frame of mind. He broke the scoring with a marvellous distance strike, which acted as the spark for Chelsea to assume command of proceedings. By the final whistle, they had 4 goals, with Neto scoring a trio of them for a brilliant three-goal haul.

The Forward's Response and Impact

The home side displayed plenty of fight throughout, but the clearer chances always fell Chelsea’s way. Estêvão should have broken the scoring when he rounded goalkeeper the Hull stopper before inexplicably shooting over. Delap then had a similar nightmare incident in front of goal against his old team.

He blocked a the goalkeeper's kick which came back from the bar, and he started to celebrate believing the ball had crossed the line. It had not, and by the time he understood, Hull's defenders had reacted to clear the threat.

Delap had his head in his hands after that miss, but he was immensely influential from there on out, providing three assists. The opening was for the first goal as his through ball teed up Neto to score from outside the box. Six minutes after the second half began, it was 2-0 as the forward's corner went directly in through Phillips's legs.

Contest Put Beyond Doubt and Focus Turns

Seven minutes after the second, the tie was effectively ended as a dazzling dribble from Delap laid on Estêvão to tap into an unguarded goal. Neto then finished his treble as Delap once again played the decisive pass for the striker to coolly slot by a helpless Phillips.

By that stage, the work Hull had done in the first half-hour had long since erased. Their priority must now switch back to achieving a return to the Premier League under their manager, who rested several key players with that aim in mind.

"I think we earned at least one goal but if we perform like this we will be in a very good situation in the Championship," he said. "Never surrender, maybe in the upcoming games this can be a good lesson of how we must play."

Hull showed plenty of endeavour to the end, and they nearly got a consolation when Lewis Koumas hit a the upright in injury time. But this was the Blues' evening, and another positive step forward for their recently-appointed manager at a place he is familiar with very well.

Cup History Look Good

That resulted in an in the end routine night's performance, and the FA Cup-shaped signs are good from here for the winners. They have faced Hull on three other times in this competition in the last decade and on each occasion, they have progressed to make the showpiece. Much still done in that regard, but this was another significant positive for the Chelsea boss.