Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw by newly-promoted Hull City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon. Morgan Rogers gave the hosts an early lead, but Mohamed Belloumi scored twice in the first half to turn the game around before Joao Pedro earned a point for the hosts on Matchweek 4 of the Premier League.
Rogers punished the visitors after seven minutes, sweeping a left-footed finish beyond Kostantinos Tzolakis after Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro had shuttled the ball across the final third. The strike brought to an end Hull’s remarkable run of three consecutive league matches without conceding. The Tigers responded in convincing fashion, with Belloumi lashing home from the centre of the box on 28 minutes after Ryan Giles’ bouncing delivery deceived the Chelsea rearguard.
Six minutes later, Semi Ajayi’s header from a corner hit the crossbar, and Belloumi hammered the rebound goalwards through a deflection to complete a remarkable comeback. Xabi Alonso answered at the interval with the introduction of Pep Chavarria for Jorrel Hato and the home side gradually re-established their territorial dominance. Tzolakis pushed a Reece James effort behind before an incisive run and pass from Palmer presented Joao Pedro with a chance to convert emphatically on 66 minutes.
Both goalkeepers pulled off key saves in a frantic finish in west London. Tzolakis denied Rogers a second goal, and Emiliano Martinez kept out a threatening shot from substitute Mohamed-Ali Cho. Chelsea finished the afternoon with 68% possession, thirteen attempts and eight shots on target, but Hull passed that shot count from considerably less sustained periods of pressure.
The result leaves the Blues fourth on seven points, a point behind third-placed unbeaten Hull. It is now 20 league games without a clean sheet for Alonso’s side, their longest such run since 1961. Chelsea are looking for a more solid defensive foundation when they visit Brentford next Friday evening.
Hull City’s Record at Chelsea Now Looks Different
Hull have never won in 19 league visits to Stamford Bridge, drawing five and losing 15. It is the most common top-four division away ground where the Tigers have yet to open their scoring account. Yet Saturday’s draw felt qualitatively different to all the previous forays to west London.
Sergej Jakirovic has built a side of real tactical discipline and stubborn resistance. Before kick-off, Hull had spent a higher proportion of opposition build-up phases in a low block than any team other than Newcastle this season.
Belloumi, the 24-year-old Algerian signed from Portuguese side Farense in August 2024, provided the crucial quality that such organisation had previously lacked. The two goals were Hull’s first at this venue since 2009, and they have lifted the promoted club to eight points from four matches. For Chelsea, the corresponding statistic is far from comfortable, with the Blues now winless in five successive home league meetings with promoted opposition.