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

"We might have scored more but the opposition are a good team and it was a tough fixture; I am very pleased with the performance," the manager stated. "Hull City means a lot to me so it was nice to get a good welcome from the fans of supporters. The application of the lads was excellent."

The Rosenior has this place close to his heart, given part of his relatives hail from Hull and his successful period in charge of the Championship club. This happy connection continued with a magnificent display from his team, who ultimately strolled into the next round of the famous old competition.

Deadly Finishing Secures Comprehensive Win

Seventy-two hours removed from surrendering a two-goal lead in the league, there was a hint of fragility about Chelsea going into this potentially tricky tie. The capacity Hull crowd evidently felt 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 perhaps ought to have been settled long before it actually was, with two Estêvão Willian and the forward guilty of missing glorious opportunities to put their side in front in the opening period.

But, fortunately for the visitors, Pedro Neto was in a far more ruthless mood. He opened the deadlock with a spectacular distance effort, which proved to be the spark for Chelsea to take control of proceedings. By the final whistle, they had four, with the forward netting three of them for a brilliant three-goal haul.

Delap's Redemption and Influence

The home side displayed plenty of spirit all game, but the clearer chances always fell to the visitors. The winger ought to have broken the scoring when he rounded keeper Dillon Phillips before unbelievably shooting over. The striker then had a comparable nightmare incident in front of goal against his former club.

He blocked a the goalkeeper's clearance which came back from the crossbar, and Delap started to celebrate thinking the ball had crossed the line. It had not, and by the time he realised, Hull's backline had reacted to avert the danger.

Delap had his head in his hands after that miss, but he was immensely instrumental from there on out, registering three assists. The opening was for the opening goal as his through ball teed up his teammate to finish from range. Shortly after the second half began, it was two as the forward's set-piece went directly in through Phillips's legs.

Contest Put Beyond Doubt and Focus Turns

Seven minutes after the second, the match was effectively ended as a magnificent dribble from the forward teed up Estêvão to tap into an unguarded goal. Neto then finished his treble as Delap again played the crucial pass for the striker to coolly slot past a helpless goalkeeper.

By that stage, the effort Hull had put in in the opening half-hour had long since forgotten. Their focus must now return to securing a promotion to the Premier League under their manager, who left out a number of 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 position in the league," he said. "Never surrender, maybe in the upcoming games this can be a positive example of how we should play."

There was plenty of endeavour to the end, and they nearly got a consolation when Lewis Koumas struck a the upright in stoppage time. But this was Chelsea’s evening, and another positive stride for their new head coach at a stadium he is familiar with very well.

FA Cup Omens Look Promising

That made for an in the end routine evening’s performance, and the FA Cup-shaped 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 make the showpiece. There is remains to be work in that respect, but this was another huge tick for the Chelsea boss.