Chelsea boss returns to the MKM searching for a cup response against his former club

Hull City and Chelsea meet at the MKM Stadium on Friday night with a place in the FA Cup fifth round on the line.

Chelsea head into the tie needing a response after throwing away a two-goal lead in their 2-2 draw with Leeds United, a result that halted their momentum under Liam Rosenior.

The fourth-round trip also carries extra significance for Rosenior, who returns to face his former club less than two years after leaving Hull City in May 2024.

Chelsea have made an encouraging start under their new head coach, but the Leeds game exposed familiar issues, with sloppy defending undoing an otherwise dominant display.

Progress in the FA Cup would offer a timely reset, especially with Premier League pressure building around the race for the top four.

Hull, though, will see this as one of their biggest nights of the season, even if their recent results have taken some shine off a campaign that has kept them in the Championship promotion picture.

The Tigers were held to a goalless draw by Watford before losing 3-2 at home to Bristol City, a match that underlined how quickly their form can wobble when concentration drops.

Sergej Jakirovic’s side still carry a threat in front of their own supporters and will be eager to raise their level against Premier League opposition.

Hull’s problem is the weight of history against Friday’s visitors.

They have not beaten Chelsea since 1988 and have lost eight straight meetings, including FA Cup exits to the Londoners in 2018 and 2020.

That record means the hosts must find a sharper edge than they have shown in recent weeks if they are to spring an upset.

Chelsea will also be mindful of their own recent FA Cup frustrations, having been knocked out early by Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion in the last two seasons.

A strong cup run would therefore represent both progress under Rosenior and a welcome shift in narrative after Tuesday’s disappointment.

The visitors should arrive with quality across the pitch, but they will need to show greater control without the ball and avoid the lapses that allowed Leeds back into the contest.

Hull will aim to turn the MKM into a hostile setting and make the game uncomfortable from the first duel, knowing that Chelsea have everything to lose.

With Rosenior returning to familiar surroundings and both sides carrying something to prove, the tie has the ingredients for a tense and compelling cup night.