Chelsea 0 - 0 Hull City

Hull City took a point from their visit to Stamford Bridge with Phil Brown left delighted after seeing his side draw 0-0 with Chelsea.

Brown made one forced change with Geovanni replacing the suspended Bernard Mendy. Richard Garcia, who had started up-front against West Brom, filled in on the right of a four man midfield with Geovanni partnering Craig Fagan in attack.

Chelsea handed a debut to Portuguesse winger Rocardo Quaresma whilst Hilario and Alex started for the injured Petr Cech and Ricardo Carvalho respectively. The Premier League`s leading goal scorer Nicolas Anelka started up-front with Didier Drogba a named substitute.

Hull`s draw means Chelsea have now dropped sixteen points at home this season with the former fortress no longer a daunting proposition for visiting teams. Hull`s performance, which merited the point they came away with, was reminiscent of their early season form. Had their finishing at The Bridge been a little better, Chelsea couldn`t have begrudged Phil Brown`s side taking maximum points.

It could have been different for Chelsea had John Terry not shot over from two yards out only a minute into the game. Although Chelsea dominated the early stages, Hull looked at their most fragile when Chelsea attacked. Kevin Kilbane`s loss of possession in midfield allowed Chelsea to break forward with Quaresma seeing his curling shot tipped around the posy by Matt Duke.

Michael Ballack also went close with a free-kick into the side netting but it was Hull who came closest to breaking the deadlock. Sam Ricketts` cross from the right ended with Kevin Kilbane`s header flicking the outside of the post with Hilario beaten.

The second half started in similar fashion with Hull continuing to look dangerous on the counter attack. Michael Turner saw his header blocked by John Terry whilst Chelsea continued to attack to little avail. Despite the introductions of Deco and Didier Drogba, Chelsea still lacked a cutting edge with the best chance falling to Saloman Kalou late in the second half.

However, by the time Kalou missed Chelse`a best chance of the second half, Hull could have already won the game. Man of the match Craig Fagan troubled the Brazilian Alex all game, it was Alex`s mistake that allowed Fagan through on goal. Rather than square the ball to Dean Marney, Fagan tried to chip Hilario but shot straight into his arms.

Dean Marney then missed Hull`s best chance of the game. Geovanni`s reverse pass opened the Chelsea defence, Marney strode into the area but with Hilario beaten, Marney`s cross goal shot went agonizingly past the far post. There was still time for Hull to have another one on one chance with Fagan taking too long and failing to find Ryan France at the far post.

In added time at the end of the second half, a Hull corner caused panic in the Chelsea box, Ian Ashbee wasting the far post chance as his drive went wide of goal with the inspirational captain off balance as he tried to convert. However, Hull can only be delighted at a result few would have predicted at 3pm.

Although Brown`s side slid a place to twelfth, they maintain an important six point gap to the relegation zone.

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