An inspired Pedro Neto performance helped Chelsea towards a dominant victory over Hull City that saw the Blues progress towards the fifth round of the FA Cup in their pursuit of silverware this season.
It was certainly not a masterclass in finishing at times from Chelsea, who could have ran away with it in the opening half. But a much more clinical second half from the visitors ensured that there would be no scares on the card.
Neto was the man to open the scoring late in the first half, firing in from range before adding a second directly from a corner less than five minutes into the second half.
Estêvão made it three before Neto scored his third of the evening to seal a performance of the highest quality for both himself and the West London outfit.
Story of the Match
It was clear from the first whistle that Chelsea's route to goal would have to come from quick, precise passing as Hull's back five were more than content to let the visiting side have the larger share of possession.
Pedro Neto was the first to have an opportunity, receiving the ball on the right following a spell of intricate passing from the Blues. The Portugal international cut inside and got his shot off, but it did not threaten Dillon Phillips, who watched the effort travel comfortably over the bar.
Chelsea really should have opened the scoring in the ninth minute as a smart pass from Moises Caicedo split the Hull defence open. Alejandro Garnacho, looking to prove a point, collected the ball and took aim towards goal. Phillips parried it out towards an onrushing Neto, who was unable to put the ball into the back of the net.
Despite all this early pressure, Hull handed Chelsea an early scare as Liam Millar caught out Reece James, dispossessing the Blues' captain. The hosts would have surely been in the lead if it weren't for a crucial block from Mamadou Sarr on his return to Chelsea.
The centre-back was involved again moments later, playing an inch-perfect pass over to Estêvão. Chelsea's wonderkid took a magnificent touch and rounded Phillips before proceeding to fire his effort over the bar. Liam Rosenior would have been left wondering how his side was not in front.
If he was not in disbelief already, he would have been on the twenty-minute mark. Liam Delap's block on Phillips' goal kick rattled off the crossbar. The striker looked to bury the rebound in pedestrian fashion, but got punished for his lack of urgency as Phillips recovered; an embarrassing moment for Chelsea's number nine.
The visiting side had firmly been in control from the first whistle, but Hull were entering the final ten minutes of the half unscathed. Chelsea were frustrated as it looked like a degree of sloppiness was entering their game.
With five minutes to play in the first half, Chelsea finally produced a moment of quality in the final third. It was Pedro Neto who breached the Tigers' defence, firing a perfect shot into the bottom right corner, leaving Phillips with absolutely no chance.
It would be the Blues who entered half-time in front. A deserved lead, undoubtedly for a side who were more than comfortable, but Liam Rosenior would certainly have wanted to see much-improved finishing from his side in the second half.
Hull would enter the break believing they were not out of it, but were certainly with the knowledge that they would have to tighten up defensively; on another night, it could have been a much heavier deficit at the break.
Chelsea, as expected, came out of the blocks fast as they looked to kill the game off before the latter stages to avoid any nerves coming into play. Andrey Santos came extremely close to doubling his side's lead less than five minutes into the half, his headed effort forcing the corner.
The set-piece bore fruit for Chelsea in an unexpected way, as Neto's delivery bypassed everyone, travelling through the legs of Phillips and directly into the back of the net. It was exactly what the Blues needed to really tighten their grip on proceedings.
Chelsea were having it all their way now as Hull were struggling to live with the pressure being applied on them. This became apparent as the visitors soon had their third.
Delap was the creator once more, making a brilliant run into the box before laying the ball off to an onrushing Estêvão, who ensured his name would be on the scoresheet.
Hull City's heads had certainly dropped after the Brazilian's finish that had all but taken the game away from the Tigers, if it already had not been.
Chelsea, on the other hand, were ravenous for more, particularly Neto, who was in pursuit of a hat trick. The winger's efforts were rewarded as Delap once again did well to hold up the ball, playing it to his teammate in blue, who caressed his effort into the bottom left corner to make it four.
The game was done, providing Liam Rosenior to hand academy prospect Jesse Derry his senior debut for the Blues in what would have undoubtedly been a proud moment for the 18-year-old.
Lewis Koumas came within inches of getting Hull a consolation goal but was denied by the fingertips of Robert Sanchez. The Spaniard had not exactly been overworked on the evening but remained switched on when it mattered and was rewarded with a clean sheet.
It turned out to be another comfortable victory for Chelsea, who, although they were not always clinical, showed high levels of maturity in the latter stages to see out the game.