Chelsea Now Eight Points Clear
Diego Costa scored on his return to the Chelsea team as they beat Hull City to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The Spain striker missed last weekend’s 3-0 win over champions Leicester, citing a back injury after a disagreement with a fitness coach, amid reports of Chinese Super League interest.
But the Blues’ top scorer – cheered throughout the game by home fans – returned against struggling Hull and had an early impact, sending an effort from 20 yards fizzing just wide after only 10 seconds.
He got the opening goal when he converted Victor Moses’ low cross from eight yards out in the seventh minute of first-half injury time.
The long stoppage was a result of a head injury to Hull midfielder Ryan Mason, who went to hospital after being carried off on a stretcher wearing an oxygen mask following a clash of heads with Chelsea defender Gary Cahill.
Hull played well but lacked cutting edge without the injured Robert Snodgrass and Cahill sealed the win when he headed home Cesc Fabregas’ free-kick.
Last weekend, Chelsea’s position at the top of the Premier League was looking far from secure. The Blues were five points clear after their long winning run was ended by Tottenham and Costa’s future at the club seemed in severe doubt.
Fast forward eight days and the Blues – with Costa back in the first team – are now eight points above second-placed Arsenal, the only other team in the top six to win this weekend.
Antonio Conte’s side were far from spectacular against the Tigers. In fact, Costa – with six shots – was the only Chelsea player to have more than one effort.
But a 15th win in their past 16 league games – and a 13th Premier League clean sheet of the season – takes them one game closer to a sixth English top-flight title.
