Hull City vs. Chelsea: Winners and Losers from Premier League
Chelsea restored a six-point gap at the top of the Premier League table at the KC Stadium on Sunday, beating Hull City 3-2 in an epic, exciting encounter.
Eden Hazard and Diego Costa scored goals inside the first 10 minutes to place the Blues firmly in the ascendancy, but Ahmed Elmohamady and Abel Hernandez responded within a minute of each other to draw the score level by half-time.
Loic Remy, super-sub, won it late with a strike that Allan McGregor somehow allowed to crawl over the line. Here, B/R picks its winners and losers from the game.
Winner: Dame N'Doye, Who Was a Man of the Match Contender
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Dame N'Doye, despite being on the losing side, showed again why Hull City were so smart to pick him up and take a January gamble on him.
Hernandez and Elmohamady scored the goals, but N'Doye's touch and presence in the final third was a cut above his teammates'. His linking of attacks and flicked headers to send colleagues through were real weapons throughout.
Despite Gaston Ramirez winning the home team's Man of the Match award, N'Doye was the most impressive Tiger on the pitch.
Loser: Branislav Ivanovic, Who Struggled Immensely
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Branislav Ivanovic recovered somewhat in the second half, but he struggled mightily in the first period as Andrew Robertson gave him the run-around. The Scot breezed past him to set up Elmohamady's goal to start the comeback with ease.
The Serbian also played a dodgy pass back to Thibaut Courtois in the build-up to the comical second, though the Belgian's hashing of it is largely to blame for the concession.
Usually such a force, Ivanovic did not threaten on offense and looked awful at the back.
Winner: Eden Hazard, Who Was Superb as Usual
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Hazard opened the scoring at the KC Stadium with a thunderbolt, smashing home from 22 yards into the top corner after warding off challenges left and right.
He continued to threaten throughout and, for long stretches, looked Chelsea's best player. His intricate work in the final third, slipping passes into the box and to players in tight spaces, was key to the Blues' creation of chances.
Just another day at the office for the Premier League's Player of the Season so far.
Loser: Nemanja Matic, Who Failed to Control the Midfield
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It's Nemanja Matic's job to ensure Chelsea control the midfield, dominate proceedings and limit the amount of attacks the opposition create.
He didn't really do any of that.
If John Obi Mikel were fit, it's likely the Nigerian would come in to relieve Matic, who looks tired and is struggling after an injury and a suspension. The Blues lost the midfield Sunday, which falls at least partially on his shoulders.
Winner: Loic Remy, Super-Sub
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Costa exited the fray late in the second half with what looked like a hamstring tweak, so Jose Mourinho sent Remy on in his place.
"Just to play with my quality," the striker responded when Sky Sports' live broadcast asked him what the manager had told him before going on.
He certainly did the job.
His first touch was a strike on goal, and it went in, sealing the win. He was a little fortuitous to see it crawl over the line, but he makes space for himself and does the business. If Costa's out for a few weeks, the mantle rests reliably with Remy.
