Attention turns to the FA Cup this weekend, and a first visit to the banks of the Humber in over three years. Our preview starts with statistical information linked to this fourth round tie...
Chelsea vs Hull head to head record
The fourth round FA Cup draw has matched Chelsea with Hull for the eighth time, and second in three seasons. The Blues have never lost to the Tigers in this competition, though three of the first four ties between 1909 and 1982 were only won after a replay.
Chelsea have won the last seven meetings in league and cup and are unbeaten in 15 games against the Tigers (13 wins, two draws).
Eddie Gray was in charge the last time Hull defeated Chelsea. They won 3-0 at their old stadium Boothferry Park in October 1988 in the old Second Division.
Other cup meeting (League Cup)
2007/08 - KC Stadium - Third Round - Won 4-0
Our last meeting
CHELSEA 4 HULL CITY 0FA Cup fifth round, Stamford Bridge, 16.02.18
Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Caballero; Rudiger, Ampadu, Cahill (c); Zappacosta, Fabregas (Scott 61), Drinkwater, Emerson; Willian, Pedro (Hudson-Odoi h/t); Giroud (Morata 70)Unused subs: Eduardo, T Chalobah, Sterling, Moses.Head Coach: Antonio ConteBooked: Scott.Injured: Barkley, Alonso, David Luiz, BakayokoScorers: Willian 2, 32, Pedro 27, Giroud 42Penalty save: Caballero 51
Hull City (4-5-1): Marshall; Meyler, Dawson (c), MacDonald, Clark; Wilson (Toral 55), Evandro, Stewart, Irvine (Batty 87), Diomande; Dicko (Campbell 72)Unused subs: McGregor, Clackstone, Grosicki, W Keane.Head Coach: Nigel AdkinsBooked: Stewart, Irvine
Referee: Andre MarrinerAttendance: 39,591
Biggest win for each team:
Hull City 1-6 Chelsea 1999/00 FA CupHull City 3-0 Chelsea 1988/89 Division Two
Chelsea in numbers
Chelsea have been drawn away in the FA Cup for the first time since the quarter-final at Leicester in 2018.
The last team from a lower division to beat the Blues in the FA Cup was Bradford City in the fourth round in 2015 at Stamford Bridge. The Bantams were sixth in League One at the time and ended our run of 12 successive home victories by winning 4-2.
Frank Lampard’s side have won 60 per cent (nine) of our 15 away games this season in all competitions, losing four.
In his playing career for the Blues, Frank Lampard played five times against the Tigers, winning three and drawing the other two, scoring twice.
Milestones
Antonio Rudiger’s next appearance will be his 100th for Chelsea in all competitions since he joined the club in the summer of 2017.
Against Arsenal, Cesar Azpilicueta’s started for the 250th time in the Premier League. He is the seventh Blues player to reach that landmark for the club.
Hull City Stats
Best seasons in the FA Cup
Runners-up: 2013/14Semi-finalists: 1929/30
Last season
Championship - 13thFA Cup - Third roundLeague Cup - Second roundTop scorer all competitions - Jarrod Bowen 22
This season’s stats (all competitions)
Most appearances: Bowen 30, Burke 28, Eaves 28, Irvine 28, Long 28Top scorers: Bowen 17, Eaves 7, Grosicki 6Most assists: Bowen 6, Grosicki 5, Honeyman 2
Hull come into the match on the back of successive league defeats to Fulham and Derby.
Grant McCann’s side have lost their last two home games (Nottingham Forest and Fulham) without scoring. They have won six and lost six of their 14 games at the KCOM Stadium this term.
The Tigers currently stand 12th in the Championship with 39 points from 28 matches, seven points off the play-off places.
Top scorer Jarrod Bowen has scored 35 goals in his last 57 appearances since December 2018.
In the third round at League One side Rotherham, Grant McCann made eight changes to their previous league game at Sheffield Wednesday. Tom Eaves scored a stoppage-time winner and completed his hat-trick in the Tigers’ 3-2 victory.
Hull’s last six seasons in the FA Cup
2013/14 Lost the final at Wembley to Arsenal after extra time2014/15 Lost at Arsenal in the third round2015/16 Lost at home to Arsenal in the fifth round2016/17 Lost at Fulham in the fourth round2017/18 Lost at Chelsea in the fifth round2018/19 Lost at Millwall in the third round
Head coach Grant McCann was manager of Peterborough when we won 4-1 in the FA Cup third round in 2017. Hull’s Leonardo Da Silva Lopes, Ryan Tafazolli and Martin Samuelsen played for Peterborough that day.
Hull's most recent line-up
Derby County 1 Hull City 0Championship Saturday 18 January
Team 4-2-3-1: Long; Lichaj (c), Burke, Tafazolli, Elder; Da Silva Lopes, Kane; Bowen, Irvine (Honeyman 71), Bowler (Samuelsen 62); Magennis (Wilks 71)
Discipline
There are no suspensions
Yellow cards only count in the competition they are received. In the FA Cup, two yellow cards will result in a one-match suspension. The cut-off point is the quarter-finals, so no player can miss the final through cumulative yellows.
FA Cup bookingsJames 1
Referee and VAR
Referee: Craig PawsonThere is no VAR for this match
Craig Pawson is the official for his third Blues game this season, all since the beginning of December. He was the referee for our away Premier League games at Everton and Arsenal.