Hull City Earns Hard-Fought Draw Against Chelsea
Hull’s fearless Premier League return rolled on in west London, and this time it came with a statement. A point at Chelsea, earned the hard way, and celebrated like something far bigger.
They trailed early. Morgan Rogers punished them with a sharp finish, and for a brief spell it looked like the afternoon might run away from the visitors. It didn’t. It woke them up.
Mohamed Belloumi dragged Hull back into it and then dragged them in front.
First, he pounced ruthlessly on a loose moment from Jorrel Hato, seizing on the error and making Chelsea pay. Then he struck again, his second effort taking a deflection off Levi Colwill and wrong-footing the goalkeeper. Two chances, two goals, and suddenly Stamford Bridge felt restless.
Hull went in at the break 2-1 up, and they could easily have been out of sight.
“We had 2-1 at half-time and we had a 100% chance with McBurnie but Martinez's save was excellent,” manager Jakirovic told BBC Sport, still buzzing from the intensity of it all. That moment felt huge. At 3-1, the game might have been gone for Chelsea.
Instead, the hosts hung on and hit back. Cole Palmer, the calmest presence on the pitch, slipped in Joao Pedro after the restart, and the Brazilian made no mistake with the finish to level the match. Hull had been warned about controlling their box; this time, the punishment was clinical.
“We have to control play better in the box because we can stop this [Chelsea goal],” Jakirovic admitted. The pride was obvious, but so was the demand for more.
The game swung again. Hull refused to retreat into their shell, and chances kept coming. Cho went close, only to see Martinez deny him as well. The Chelsea goalkeeper, already responsible for keeping McBurnie out, turned the afternoon into his personal highlight reel.
“We had an excellent chance for Cho – Martinez saved again. Player of the match,” Jakirovic said, acknowledging the barrier that stood between Hull and one of the shocks of the season.
When the final whistle went, the 2-2 draw felt like a victory for the visitors. Jakirovic didn’t bother to hide it.
“I feel good. We have to be happy. It's a huge result for us,” he said. “We took a point in a very demanding match. Eight points against very difficult opponents. We have to continue like this.”
He has every reason to be bullish. Newly promoted Hull City have ripped up the script on their Premier League return. A 2-0 opening win over Manchester United set the tone. A gritty 1-0 victory against Coventry City backed it up. A goalless draw with Aston Villa added resilience to the story. Now a point at Chelsea, still unbeaten, still swinging above their weight.
The table might not matter in September, but the mood does. Right now, Hull look like they belong.
There was, though, a darker note amid the celebrations. Defender Nobel Mendy left the pitch after a heavy collision, clearly struggling as he made his way off. The concern was immediate and serious.
“He went to hospital for a scan. He's dizzy and disorientated. We'll see. It's a concussion 100%,” Jakirovic confirmed after the match. For all the joy of the result, the manager’s tone shifted when he spoke about Mendy.
Hull walk away from west London with their reputation enhanced and their unbeaten run intact. The question now is simple: can the surprise package keep punching like this when the season’s grind really bites?
