It was a simply bizarre game for Liam Delap in the FA Cup, with him given a rare chance to start for Chelsea under Liam Rosenior.
Delap previously played for Hull City under Rosenior, and despite the emphatic win for the Blues he was unable to find the net.
This didn’t come without its chances though, and the striker himself thought he had scored in the first half when he closed down the goalkeeper, deflecting the ball against the bar.
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As he ran off seemingly celebrating, the game carried on, and he couldn’t re-adjust himself to find the net from close range in a bizarre moment.
Hull City v Chelsea - Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
A striker who is clearly desperate for a goal, his antics didn’t leave Alan Shearer particularly impressed. The commentator for BBC Sport certainly knows a thing or two about finding the net.
He said: “One of the reasons why Liam Delap went down more than anything is out of embarrassment for the chance that he missed.
“There he is, closing down, he does really well, but he just sort of walks to it, ambles to it and takes his time. He’s even looking around and I’m thinking ‘go on, get on the end of it, show some urgency’.
“And then he’s having a look around again, just put it in the net! Goodness me, what are you waiting for?”
It would’ve been easy for Rosenior to replace him with Joao Pedro early in the game, however the manager deserves credit for trusting him to deliver for the rest of the match, which he did.
1-0 up at the break, but it should be more…
What do YOU think Delap was doing with that chance…
Hull City v Chelsea - Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Delap repays Rosenior faith
The number nine assisted Pedro Neto for his opening goal in the first half, and showed all his class in behind to tee up Estevao Willian for his strike.
Neto used him as a backboard for his hat-trick goal, bringing up a trio of assists for Delap.
The Englishman would have loved to have scored himself in his race to displace Pedro from the starting side, however he showed he has plenty to bring this Chelsea side when given the opportunity.
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