Clean-sheet king Cech sets club record as Chelsea see off Hull

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Hull City 0-2 Chelsea

(Hazard 56', Torres 86').

Petr Cech recorded a club-record 209^th clean sheet as Chelsea secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Hull City - moving top of the Premier League table in the process.

The Czech custodian was severely underemployed on a day where he had the opportunity to overtake Peter Bonetti as Chelsea’s leading goalkeeper in terms of shut-outs, as his side eased to victory at the KC Stadium.

Hull, who had conceded just six goals all season in home league fixtures, were indebted to goalkeeper Alan McGregor for a brace of outstanding saves as the teams went into the break level – but the Blues once again turned things up a notch or two after the interval.

Recent wins at Southampton and Derby have been secured through dominant second half showings, and that was once again the case as first Eden Hazard jinked his way past a host of defenders before lashing the ball beyond McGregor to hand Chelsea the lead, before Fernando Torres made it two goals in as many starts in 2014 as he sealed the win late on.

With Manchester City not playing until Sunday, and current league leaders Arsenal away to Aston Villa on Monday evening, this was the opportunity for José Mourinho’s side to go top of the Premier League – at least temporarily, anyway.

And whilst they were somewhat lethargic in an uninspiring first half, the Blues again demonstrated their title credentials with a comprehensive attacking performance, within which Eden Hazard was once more the star performer.

The Belgian’s eleventh goal of the season – and ninth in the league, equalling his total for the whole of last season – was as good as any he has previously netted in Chelsea blue; this time bamboozling defender after defender with an explosion of pace and trickery - before thumping a finish into the bottom corner.

Torres, again industrious, may not have enjoyed one of his most emphatic Chelsea performances, but his late strike was clinically taken and was a deserved reward for a battling showing against a five-man Hull City rearguard.

It was that tight defensive unit that has lifted Hull away from the relegation zone, and particularly at home, the Tigers have been miserly in recent victories over the Blues’ West London neighbours Fulham, and also title-chasing Liverpool, who they demolished 3-1 last month.

That imperious record looked set to continue as the Blues toiled in breaking down such a stubborn defence until the final few minutes of the half, when McGregor found himself the far busier of the two goalkeepers.

The Scottish international first produced a miraculous point-blank save as Oscar, played in through clever combination play between Hazard and the returning Ashley Cole, unleashed a fearsome drive from ten yards out, only for the keeper to palm the ball over the bar. Later tested by a dipping David Luiz free-kick, the hosts were no doubt indebted to the Scot for maintaining parity as the teams went in level at the break.

Chelsea emerged with renewed vigour, and moments after Luiz had again been denied by a sprawling McGregor with another knuckling free-kick, the visiting side took the lead through Hazard’s breath-taking strike.

That goal only evoked further positive play from the Blues, with Willian, brimming with confidence after a string of impressive individual performances over recent weeks, went close with a free-kick from an improbably angle after Ramires had been hacked down near the corner flag.

Willian had been one of the central figures in Chelsea’s recent demolition of Southampton, and he almost turned provider once more as his clever shift fooled Maynor Figueroa. His cross was perfectly waited, but Oscar – fated not to score, it seems – was once again denied by Hull City heroics; this time captain Curtis Davies flinging himself in front of the ball as the diminutive Brazilian looked to finish the game off.

But it was only to be a matter of time before the inevitable clincher arrived, and once again it was Fernando Torres, so often the scourge of Hull City in the past, who arrowed a smart finish beyond McGregor with 86 minutes played to send Chelsea top of the table.

With the Blues’ fellow title-chasers not in action until Sunday and Monday respectively, this – potentially brief – spell at the top at least reinforces the notion that Mourinho’s side are most definitely pushing through the gears. Another impressive away result, coupled with another goal for the Premier League’s most outstanding player at present, represents Mourinho throwing the gauntlet at the feet of Messrs Pellegrini and Wenger.

Chelsea, next weekend, turn their attentions to seventh-placed Manchester United, who, at the time of writing, sit twelve points off the Blues and the top of the table. A sixth straight win in all competitions would most certainly rubber-stamp Chelsea as one of the favourites for the title.

[Polo7 3,496]

Great keeper, great Chelsea servant, great guy!

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Indeed, our greatest-ever goalkeeper, and arguably one of our greatest-ever players.

[Spike 12,049]

I missed this match. Hopefully I don't miss the next one.

[Alan Partridge 1,124]

Legend!

I think he will beat ' Calamity James's ' PL record

[bluephoenix 1,131]

I thought you were late to publish the article and then I realized I was late to find out in which section these articles reside.

Job well done as usual

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I thought you were late to publish the article and then I realized I was late to find out in which section these articles reside.

Job well done as usual

If I'm at home, I try and get them done within an hour of the game finishing