The Blues make the trip north to take on Hull City this afternoon, and the official Chelsea website brings you snippets from our five most recent away games against today's opponents...
A 2-0 win in last season’s corresponding fixture saw the Blues move to the top of the Barclays Premier League, while Petr Cech broke the record for the highest number of clean sheets kept as a Chelsea goalkeeper.
A stubborn home defence made it difficult for the Blues for long spells, with both goals coming during the second half.
Eden Hazard broke the deadlock shortly after half-time with a wonderful solo effort, before Fernando Torres wrapped up the points four minutes from time.
Hazard’s opener was described in the following way in the club’s official match report on the day:
‘David Luiz played the ball into Cole, who released Hazard with a delightful first-time back heel. The Belgian dashed in from the left-hand side of the box, feigning to shoot on a couple of occasions. He took his time before firing low and hard past McGregor, who stood no chance. Hazard's ninth Premier League goal of the season was one of his best yet, a fusion of the two he struck at Sunderland in early December.’
In 2009/10 a Chelsea side under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti came from behind to earn a point in a midweek encounter on Humberside.
It was a game we could have won, but Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill was in inspired form.
The home side had taken the lead in the first half but Didier Drobga equalised after the break with a free-kick, described in the following way on Chelseafc.com.
‘Drogba placed the ball, no doubt thinking about his similar strike against the Tigers on the season's opening day. The method may have been slightly different with a slight deflection off the Hull wall, but the result was the same and Chelsea were level.’
A brilliant team performance allowed us to secure a comfortable 3-0 victory in 2008/09.
Frank Lampard opened the scoring inside the opening two minutes with a wonderful chip, and second-half strikes from Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda compounded the home side’s misery.
Here’s how Lampard’s strike was reported in the club’s official match report:
‘The Blues had initially attacked down the left through Ashley Cole and after Malouda had foraged in the area, McShane's hurried clearance went straight to the feet of Lamps.
‘On the left of the area from a position where normal players would have been looking to cross, he simply flighted the perfect lofted ball over a bewildered Myhill and into the far side of the net. Our vice-captain's year of the chip goes on.’
Scott Sinclair and Steve Sidwell scored their first goals for the club in a 4-0 League Cup victory away at Hull in 2007/08.
There was no risk of an upset from the moment Sinclair fired us in front nine minutes before half-time. Salomon Kalou extended our lead prior to Sidwell’s strike, and the Ivorian made it 4-0 with his second of the night late on.
Sinclair’s goal was described on Chelseafc.com in the following way.
‘Within seconds however, the Blues did take the lead and what a fine strike and a fine moment it was for Scott Sinclair, sweeping in Wright-Phillips's cross that had threaded a way through a crowd with a sweet connection for his first Chelsea goal.’
Gustavo Poyet scored a hat-trick as the Blues cruised into the fourth round of the FA Cup courtesy of a 6-1 victory at Hull in 1999/2000.
It was a dominant Chelsea display and we never looked back after Poyet had opened the scoring after just nine minutes.
Chris Sutton and Roberto Di Matteo were also on target, while Hull defender Mike Edwards put through his own net for the hosts.
Sutton’s goal made it 2-0 on the day, and here’s how it was described in Onside, the club’s official publication at the time.
‘Sutton dived backwards to twist and head Harley’s whipped cross back over Bracey into the far corner. Harley had started the move , heading a cross-field ball into Di Matteo, who found Zola, and Zola slipped the still running Harley through along the left touchline.’