What Chelsea Crisis?

HULL CITY 0-4 CHELSEA

Chelsea opened their defence of the Carling Cup with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Championship side Hull City on Humberside, suggesting that talk of a Stamford Bridge crisis is somewhat over-stated.

Chelsea cruised past Hull City into the fourth round of the Carling Cup to give Avram Grant his first win as manager, and a welcome respite from negative headlines.

Although the Tigers held Chelsea at bay until the 37th minute, Scott Sinclair's opener - a low drive - put the Blues firmly in the driving seat.

Salomon Kalou headed home the second just after half-time before Steve Sidwell's well-struck drive soon made it 3-0.

And Kalou completed a thoroughly convincing victory by finishing some good work by substitute Joe Cole.

Hull acquitted themselves well but did not look likely to cause a giant-killing upset, even though Grant made seven changes from the team that lost to Manchester United on Sunday.

Chelsea were straight into their stride, forcing five corners inside the opening four minutes, and the Hull keeper, Bo Myhill, was busy keeping out a Sidwell drive and a Kalou shot.

As expected, the home team had a spell of pressure, but Chelsea looked as though they could step it up a gear, and when Shaun Wright-Phillips, threatening throughout the first-half, fired in a cross, there was 18-year-old Sinclair netting the first goal of the Grant era with a curling shot.

If Hull entertained hopes of a comeback, they vanished soon after the break when Chelsea doubled their lead, Pizarro outsmarting the Tigers' defence and whipping over a left-wing cross that Kalou, challenged by Damien Delasney, headed into the net from close range.

Sidwell cracked a swerving 25-yarder to make it 3-0 after only 52 minutes, but Hull did well to stem the tide, and nearly got a consolation when Jay-Jay Okocha's sent a free-kick narrowly over the bar.

Wright-Phillips limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury, but his replacement, Joe Cole, set up the fourth goal wuth an astute pass for Kalou to finish.