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Amid sleet, snow, and a biting wind off the waters of the Humber, combined with a determined Hull City side fighting for promotion, this had all the makings of a challenging night's task for the visitors.

"We could have scored more but Hull are a strong team and it was a difficult tie; I’m very pleased with the performance," the manager stated. "This club means a lot to me so it was nice to get a good welcome from both sets of fans. The application of the lads was superb."

The Rosenior has this place close to his heart, considering some of his family hail from Hull and his successful spell in charge of the Tigers. This happy association was extended with a commanding performance from his team, who ultimately sauntered into the fifth round of the famous old competition.

Clinical Finishing Secures Comfortable Win

Three days after surrendering a two-goal advantage in the league, there was a sniff of fragility about Chelsea going into this potentially tricky cup clash. The packed home support clearly sensed it too, but Rosenior's men handled the task perfectly.

The manager made alterations, enacting seven of them to his starting lineup. The tie might and maybe ought to have been decided earlier than it actually was, with both the Brazilian winger and the forward at fault for missing glorious chances to put Chelsea in front in the opening period.

But, luckily for the away team, their Portuguese attacker was in a much more ruthless frame of mind. He opened the scoring with a spectacular long-range strike, which acted as the catalyst for his team to take control of proceedings. By full time, they had 4 goals, with Neto scoring three of them for a superb three-goal haul.

Delap's Redemption and Impact

The home side showed plenty of spirit all game, but the clearer chances always fell Chelsea’s way. Estêvão should have opened the deadlock when he went past keeper the Hull stopper before inexplicably shooting over. The striker then had a comparable horror moment in front of goal against his former club.

He blocked a the goalkeeper's clearance which came back from the crossbar, and he began to celebrate believing the ball had crossed the line. It had not, and by the time he understood, Hull's backline had responded to clear the danger.

The player had his head in his hands after that moment, but he was immensely instrumental from there on out, providing 3 assists. The opening was for the first goal as his through ball teed up Neto to score from outside the box. Shortly after the second half began, it was two as the forward's set-piece went straight in under Phillips's legs.

Contest Put Beyond Doubt and Focus Shifts

Seven minutes after the second, the tie was put beyond doubt as a dazzling run from Delap teed up Estêvão to tap into an empty net. The hat-trick hero then completed his treble as the provider again played the crucial ball for the striker to coolly slot past a stranded goalkeeper.

By that stage, the effort Hull had done in the opening half-hour had long since forgotten. Their focus must now return to securing a promotion to the Premier League under Sergej Jakirovic, who rested several first-choice players with that goal in mind.

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

There was great effort to the final whistle, and they nearly got a late goal when a substitute struck a the upright in injury time. But this was the Blues' evening, and another positive step forward for their recently-appointed head coach at a stadium he knows very well.

FA Cup Omens Look Good

The result resulted in an in the end straightforward night's work, and the cup competition omens are positive from here for Chelsea. They have faced Hull on three other times in this tournament in the last decade and every single time, they have progressed to reach the final. Much remains to be work in that regard, but this was another significant positive for Rosenior.