Chelsea issue rears its head again for Xabi Alonso as Hull City unbeaten run goes on

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CHELSEA 2-2 HULL CITY: The Tigers remain unbeaten since their return to the Premier League after taking a point away from Stamford Bridge against Xabi Alonso's heavily fancied side

Mohamed Belloumi scored twice for Hull at Stamford Bridge(Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside)

Chelsea and Ferrari share the same problem. They have expensive star-power, they start fast, but, at some point, the battery depletes. Unlike Lewis Hamilton, Chelsea’s faults cannot be blamed on new regulations. The same lapses of concentration which blighted them last season are thwarting them now. What Chelsea do have is abundant pace and acceleration. They boast a diamond in Morgan Rogers, who put Chelsea into the lead with a laser-like strike into the near post after receiving a pass from Joao Pedro. Then, the west Londoners switched off. Hull absorbed the Chelsea surge and struck them with a similar one-two to the one they used to cut Manchester United down to size. Ryan Giles beat the casual Malo Gusto to a long ball and hooked a hopeful cross into the box. There appeared to be little danger for Jorrel Hato, but the left-back misread the bounce horribly, allowing Mohamed Belloumi to power a half-volley past the flat-footed Emiliano Martinez. It marked the 20th Premier League game in a row that the Blues failed to keep a clean sheet.

Chelsea had not got their breath back from that body blow before the Tigers hit them with another. The Blues spent hundreds of millions in the summer, but one of their most noteworthy arrivals was the signing of Aston Villa set-piece coach Austin McPhee, whose reputation was so outstanding, the Blues paid a compensation fee to the Villans to sign him. His methods are yet to bed-in as Chelsea demonstrated with the way they dealt with a Hull corner. Semi Ajayi headed onto the crossbar unopposed, beginning a goalmouth scramble which ended with Belloumi scuffing a deflected effort past Martinez. Alonso hauled off the poor Hato and introduced summer signing Pep Chavarria, but the Tigers were still able to attack Chelsea’s defence at will. They nearly doubled their advantage when Martinez spilled a ball into the path of Oli McBurnie, but the Argentine spread himself and was able to block the ex-Sheffield United forward’s rebound.

Xabi Alonso endured a frustrating afternoon at Stamford Bridge(Image: Chris Lee/Chelsea FC)

Chelsea began to recalibrate in the attacking phase and came close to equalising through Reece James. The Blues skipper, deployed in midfield again by Alonso, whipped a fantastic, 25-yard free-kick towards the top corner, which Tzolakis just clawed out. If Alonso does not have a water-tight defence and a dominant midfield, he has a front-line who can tear up the script and bend a game to their will. Pedro, Palmer and Rogers, are all bursting with main-event energy and stardom, but they share the stage brilliantly. They dragged the Blues back into the contest.

Palmer surged down the left-wing and cut a wonderful pass back for Pedro, who lashed into the top corner. The collective did not enjoy their best game, but they still all left Stamford Bridge with at least a goal or an assist each.

Joao Pedro scored the goal which earned Chelsea a point against Hull(Image: Mike Hewitt)

Rogers saw a great chance for a winner saved by Tzolakis, but the best chance to win the game fell to the Tigers. Substitute Tim Iroegbunam was found with a cross at the back post by the excellent Giles, but the forward could not beat Martinez with his finish. Alonso's teams have spent a large portion of the campaign trailing in games. Their defensive faults are clear to see, but they are resilient and capable of dragging themselves back into games. But the Blues' game-management is as unsustainable as it is entertaining. They are easy on the eye for the neutrals, but for a side aspiring to win titles, this trait cannot continue.

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