City's hopes of causing an FA Cup shock were ended by a clinical display from the World Champions
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
21:40, 13 Feb 2026
Hull City's Liam Millar (right) and Regan Slater appear dejected after Chelsea score their second goal
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Hull City's Liam Millar (right) and Regan Slater appear dejected after Chelsea score their second goal (Image: PA)
A valiant display from Hull City saw them beaten by Chelsea in the fourth round of the FA Cup, with Liam Rosenior's men securing a convincing victory against a much-changed Tigers side helped largely by Pedro Neto's hat-trick.
A strong Chelsea outfit broke City's resistance just before half-time when Neto carved out a chance for himself from the edge of the box, and found the bottom corner in some style, to get his first and set the Blues on their way to a comfortable victory.
Though the Tigers had some good moments in the first period, the lack of quality in front of goal with Oli McBurnie and Joe Gelhardt not on the pitch was apparent, and the game was settled early in the second half with another for Neto and a tap-in for Estevao. Neto ensured he would take home one of the matchballs with a cool finish, after smart play from Liam Delap.
Boss Jakirovic made six changes from the side that lost to Bristol City last Saturday, with Dillon Phillips, Cathal McCarthy, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Liam Millar, Yu Hirakawa and Lewis Koumas all coming into the starting XI. There was no Charlie Hughes and Toby Collyer through injury while Oli McBurnie was not included in the squad. The starting XI clearly some indication about where his priorities lie ahead of seven games in 21 days starting next week.
City started on the front foot, and had a sight of goal inside two minutes when Koumas beat the offside trap, but his ball across was neither a shot nor cross, and though Giles kept it alive, goalkeeper Sanchez claimed under his bar.
Inside 10 minutes, the visitors bared their teeth when Garnacho was freed in behind Coyle and raced towards goal, forcing a good save from Phillips, with McCarthy blocking Neto from close range. Superb play from Slater set City on their way and Millar, having almost sold Giles short, robbed Reece James before teeing up Koumas, who saw a shot blocked from close range. Moments later, Estevao should have made it 1-0 when he rounded Phillips before blazing over.
Phillips almost afforded Delap the chance to open the scoring when he took an age to clear, and the ball ricocheted off the underside of the bar and down to the former City striker, allowing Phillips to get back and make a vital save. City went up the other end, with Hirakawa fouled on the edge of the box. Giles warmed the palms of Sanchez, who beat it away.
City were valiant in their efforts, but fell behind when they couldn't clear, and Neto found the bottom corner of Phillips' net from the edge of the box just before the break. It was the one moment of real quality in the game, and came from the Premier League side with it flowing through their squad.
The game was put to bed early in the second half when Neto grabbed his second direct from a corner. Having made a smart save to deny Santos, tipping his header over, Phillips allowed the ball to nutmeg him at the near post and into the net. Just before the hour, Delap's foraging run laid it on a plate for Estevao to tap home and remove any doubt.
Just after the hour, John Lundstram and Joe Gelhardt were introduced for Amir and Millar, while Chelsea sent on Enzo Fernandez and Josh Acheampong in place of Caicedo and Reece James. Cody Drameh, Kyle Joseph and Kieran Dowell were soon on for Coyle, Hirakawa and McCarthy. Delap was brought off in the final moments, to warm applause from those who used to cheer him at the MKM Stadium. Koumas hit the post in added time, almost giving a sold-out home crowd some reward.
Given City's defensive issues this season, it always felt a potentially dangerous evening if the Blues turned up, and Liam Rosenior, applauded by the home fans, made sure his side delivered in front of goal.
The Tigers have bigger things to concern themselves with, and their challenge now is to pick themselves up ready for the final 15 games of the promotion race.
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Hull City: Phillips, Giles, Egan, McNair, Coyle (c), Amir, Slater, McCarthy, Millar, Hirakawa, Koumas. Subs: Pandur, Jacob, Dowell, Lundstram, Joseph, Gelhardt, Drameh, Famewo, Tinsdale.
Chelsea: Sanchez, Neto, Delap, Santos, Sarr, Hato, James, Caicedo, Fofana, Estevao, Garnacho: Sharman-Lowe, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Fernandez, Pedro, Gusto, Acheampong, Derry, Mheuka.
Referee: Farai Hallam
Attendance: 24,320 (3,902 from Chelsea)
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