Match ends, Hull City 2, Chelsea 3.
HullHull City2ChelseaChelsea3
- Hazard scores after 87 seconds
- Costa grabs 20th goal of season before limping off
- Courtois error hands Hull equaliser
- Remy scores winner with first touch
Thibaut Courtois was indebted to Loic Remy after his late winner extended Chelsea's Premier League lead over Manchester City to six points.
The visitors went two goals ahead after Eden Hazard fired in and Diego Costa curled in his 20th of the season.
But Hull replied with two goals in 74 seconds as Ahmed Elmohamady slid in before Abel Hernandez took advantage of an error by goalkeeper Courtois.
Substitute Remy then beat Allan McGregor to score with his first touch.
The goal, which sneaked through McGregor's legs, papered over an inconsistent display from Jose Mourinho's side, who went from awesome to awful in the space of 28 first-half minutes.
Courtois will be mightily relieved at Remy's strike after the Belgium goalkeeper failed to control Branislav Ivanovic's back pass, inadvertently gifting the ball to the onrushing Hernandez for the equaliser.
And the French striker could become an important figure in the title run-in after he replaced the injured Costa, who had a hamstring problem.
While the game was not as controversial as the reverse fixture in December where Hull had a man sent off and Hull boss Steve Bruce accused Chelsea players of diving, it was entertainingly robust.
But after Chelsea established a comfortable lead, they appeared to show a fragility which is becoming more common as the season nears its finale.
Hull did not quite have the quality to fully take advantage, and they remain only three points clear of the relegation zone.
If Chelsea can continue the form they showed in the opening 10 minutes, no team are likely to catch them, even if they are still to face Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
The first goal came after two minutes as Nemanja Matic fed Costa, who laid the ball off to Hazard. The Belgium winger watched the hosts' defence back off, and smashed in from 20 yards for his 16th goal of the season.
Only nine minutes had passed before Chelsea doubled the lead. Cesc Fabregas set Costa free down the left flank and as Michael Dawson retreated, the Spain international curled into the top corner.
A rout looked possible. Yet, having shown brittleness between the goals when Hernandez was denied by Courtois, the Blues contrived to throw away a two-goal lead.
Courtois could do little for Hull's first goal. Andrew Robertson steamed down the left flank, avoided a flimsy challenge from Ivanovic and delivered a low cross to the back post where Elmohamady tucked in.
The usually reliable Courtois then lost his senses. Ivanovic passed back to the 22-year-old, who tried to take on Hull midfielder Gaston Ramirez and allowed Hernandez to nip in.
Hull had 14 shots to Chelsea's three in the first half and the hosts continued to probe after the break. Courtois pulled off a superb triple save to keep the scores level.
But when Remy came off the bench to score following Willian's centre, it ensured Courtois' error did not prove costly.
Line-ups
Hull
Formation 3-5-2
- 1McGregor
- 21Dawson
- 4Bruce
- 15McShane
- 27El Mohamady
- 7MeylerSubstituted forQuinnat 80'minutes
- 14Livermore
- 25RamÃrezSubstituted forBradyat 80'minutes
- 26RobertsonSubstituted forAlukoat 81'minutes
- 28N'Doye
- 9Hernández
Substitutes
- 2Rosenior
- 6Davies
- 11Brady
- 20Sagbo
- 22Harper
- 24Aluko
- 29Quinn
Chelsea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Courtois
- 2Ivanovic
- 24CahillBooked at 13mins
- 26Terry
- 3Filipe LuÃs
- 7Santos do NascimentoSubstituted forOscarat 61'minutes
- 21MaticBooked at 89mins
- 22WillianSubstituted forZoumaat 80'minutes
- 4FÃ bregas
- 10E Hazard
- 19Diego CostaSubstituted forRemyat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Cech
- 5Zouma
- 8Oscar
- 18Remy
- 23Ju Cuadrado
- 28Azpilicueta
- 36Loftus-Cheek
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 24,598
Match Stats
Home TeamHullAway TeamChelsea
- Possession
- Home43%
- Away57%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away3
- Corners
- Home6
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hull City 2, Chelsea 3.
Post update
Offside, Chelsea. Eden Hazard tries a through ball, but Loïc Remy is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Kurt Zouma (Chelsea).
Post update
Dame N'Doye (Hull City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Dame N'Doye (Hull City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Robbie Brady with a cross following a corner.
Booking
Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Kurt Zouma.
Post update
Offside, Hull City. Alex Bruce tries a through ball, but Abel Hernández is caught offside.
Post update
Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Sone Aluko (Hull City).
Post update
Filipe Luis (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City).
Post update
John Terry (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Dame N'Doye (Hull City).
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Hull City. Sone Aluko replaces Andrew Robertson.
Substitution
Substitution, Hull City. Stephen Quinn replaces David Meyler.
Substitution
Substitution, Hull City. Robbie Brady replaces Gastón RamÃrez.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Kurt Zouma replaces Willian.
