LONDON // In the end, it was a comfortable enough win for Chelsea on Saturday, one that kept them three points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table and allowed them to feel the wobble is over.
But it was not the walkover many expected – certainly not as easy as the 2-0 win over the same opponents on the opening day of last season – and it did raise the question of whether Chelsea have come to rely too much on Cesc Fabregas, who was absent through suspension.
The game seemed to be taking its expected course when Eden Hazard put Chelsea ahead after six minutes, drifting unmarked to the back post to head in Oscar’s immaculate cross.
Even that goal was slightly fortuitous, with Hull aggrieved that play had been allowed to continue after Sone Aluko had been trodden on by John Obi Mikel. The assumption at that point was that Chelsea would go on simply to sweep Hull aside, but they struggled for rhythm and, perhaps through complacency as much as anything, allowed Hull back into the game.
This, though, was a Hull side who had scored just two goals in their last eight league games, and they sorely lacked creativity or composure in dangerous areas.
They ended up frustrated both with themselves and referee Chris Foy. They felt Gary Cahill might have been sent off rather than booked for a heavy challenge on Aluko, and then, after half time, were furious no action was taken against Cahill as he dived out of the way of a challenge in the box.
Perhaps he was seeking to deceive the referee, perhaps simply taking evasive action. It was very difficult to tell and it was easy to understand why Foy would be charitable.
That prompted a spell of tetchiness out of keeping with the rest of the game, which ended when Tom Huddlestone was sent off for a nasty, studs-up lunge on Filipe Luis. Soon after, Hazard played in Diego Costa to end his four-game goal drought, sweeping the ball into the bottom corner for his 12th league goal in 13 games this season.
At that, the game settled into the familiar sight of Chelsea holding opponents at arm’s length, not exerting themselves unduly. Resting during games is perhaps the factor than allows the side to cope without much in the way of a playing rotation this season.
Still, the Fabregas question remains. When Marouane Fellaini stifled him in the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford earlier this season, it was clear how restricted Chelsea were.
Sunderland managed something similar through Sebastian Larsson in another draw. Here again was evidence that if Fabregas is not there, or if his influence can be checked, Chelsea lose a lot in terms of creativity and quality.
Mikel and Nemanja Matic, back after his own suspension, provided a solid enough barrier and were one of the reasons Hull created so little in their spell of pressure, but Chelsea’s use of the ball was clearly diminished.
But that is a relatively minor worry as Fabregas returns. The key, after dropping five points in their last three league games, and with Manchester City resurgent, was to get a win that would reassert their control over the league table.
It was not the best performance, it was not a great game, but it was ultimately a comfortable win.
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