Premier League - Chelsea vs Hull City

Premier League Matchday 16 sees Chelsea play host to struggling Hull City at the Bridge. The home side come into this game slightly rattled, having won just one match in their last 3 and taking just 1 point from in their last 2 in the League, a sharp contrast to the soaring form they'd enjoyed leading up to it. José Mourinho will doubtless be eager to resume that, and a return to winning ways at the weekend would be the best possible way to effect that. Hull, on the other hand, are in even more need of a victory than the Blues. With 5 losses and zero wins in their last 8 matches, and just a single win on the road in 8 (that one on the opening day of the season against Queens Park Rangers), Steve Bruce's men are falling fast, especially relative to the great campaign they enjoyed last term having been promoted the summer before.










The corresponding match in 2013 on opening day of the 2013/14 as well as José Mourinho's first official match back as manager of the club was one that ended happily for the Blues. The home side came out of the gates firing, keeping Hull parked in their own half and pelting their goal for the opening 10 minutes, until finally breaking through on 13 through Oscar. The home side then doubled their advantage 2 minutes later through a sensational Frank Lampard free-kick, ensuring The Special One's return got off to the best start possible.










The pair obtained disappointing results in their respective Matchday 15 fixtures the weekend previous. Chelsea sunk to their first defeat in any competition this season as they were beaten 2-1 by in-form Newcastle United at St. James' Park via a 21-minute brace from Papiss Demba Cissé in the 57th and 78th minutes and an eventual Drogba consolation goal 7 from time, while Hull again failed to win a game as they negotiated a drab 0-0 stalemate against West Bromwich Albion at the KC Stadium, in which their keeper kept them from incurring yet another defeat by denying Graham Dorrans from the spot.
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The Blues' record against their Saturday guests is stellar. Indeed, the Londoners have not lost a single match in any competition against the Tigers in a quarter of a century, dating back to the pair's time in the old second division. They also triumphed in both matches against the Yorkshire side last term since the latter's promotion that summer, with a pair of 2-0 wins making up the numbers.
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Chris Foy, who last officiated for Chelsea in their controversial 1-0 away defeat to Aston Villa last March and for Hull City in their 2-0 home victory over West Bromwich Albion a week later, has been appointed referee for Saturday's affair.





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haha Shed's on top of his game! Good work

Should be a pretty straightforward game. I have a feeling Drogs would start ahead of Costa for this one.

Soul wrote:I have a feeling Drogs would start ahead of Costa for this one.

Why's that?

Soul wrote:haha Shed's on top of his game! Good work

Yes, I've been in rare form the last week and a half or so


Already have even the Derby thread 90% done ffs

Shed wrote:

Soul wrote:I have a feeling Drogs would start ahead of Costa for this one.

Why's that?

Costa must be tired having played the full 90 minutes. Plus Mourinho favors Drogba over Remy

It seemed to me like he was playing him tonight for the purpose of getting him fit for Prem matches.

Oh yeah. I just saw what you posted in Costa's thread. Guess he wanted match time to get fit, which is fair enough. I just hope he doesn't burnout

That's the fear. Seems like using dead a rubber game for match fitness on a player whose problem is injuries from playing too many games is a bit counter-intuitive.

Bruce urges Tigers to show their class against Chelsea:
Steve Bruce has asked for ‘the real Hull’ to stand up and prove their quality tomorrow
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/546530/Steve-Bruce-Hull-quality

"When they did partner each other it was our best part of the season."

"It helps Hernandez when he had Jelavic with him. We've got them both back and let's hope we can rediscover those goals."

"Now's a big month for us. Let's hope we can win a few and put us back up to midtable, which is where we want to be."

"It's been a difficult period but, hopefully, now we've got some players back we'll see the real Hull again."

"You want to take on the best and they're as good as any team in Europe on their day."

"We got our scouting report back on them and under 'weaknesses' it said 'none'."

"Let's go there and enjoy it and see what we can do."

"They've arguably got the best coach, too. He's box office, the fella. Mourinho is bordering on being a genius."

"One thing you have to do is go and play well, that's for sure."

Chelsea are tough, resilient, determined and could win the lot, says Hull boss Steve Bruce:
The former Manchester United defender takes his lowly Tigers to Stamford Bridge, knowing they are in for a tough afternoon in west London
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/chelsea-tough-resilient-determined-could-4800566

“They’ve got a little bit of everything you need to win football matches. They are tough, resilient and determined.”

“They’re big and strong up front. Put all that lot together and it gives you something pretty formidable. I know people expect it to be a walk in the park for them against us because of their marvellous talent.”

“But I’ll be telling my players to roll up their sleeves, get stuck into them and have a go.”

José's pre-Hull press conference in full.

Chelsea line-up v Hull: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Filipe Luis; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa. #CFC

Bring Ramires on for Hazard and park the bus!!

HT: 1-0
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Hull just wide....

Cahill

Huddlestone off!


Straight red

Stonewall.

COSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!


2-0

Drogba on for Oscar.

And now Shirley coming on for Willian.

Ramires on for Mikel for our last change.