Chelsea progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup after a 4-0 victory over Hull City, with Pedro Neto scoring a hat trick in a dominant display on Friday night. Elsewhere, Wrexham secured a 1-0 win against Ipswich Town to reach the last 16.
The tie at the MKM Stadium carried added significance for Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior, who returned to East Yorkshire after his dismissal by Hull in 2024, shortly after the club narrowly missed out on a Championship play off place.
Chelsea controlled much of the first half but had to wait until the 40th minute to make the breakthrough. Neto finished calmly from close range after being set up by Liam Delap, who was influential throughout the evening. Delap had earlier seen a clearance rebound off him and strike the crossbar before he was unable to convert the rebound.
Neto doubled the lead shortly after the interval, scoring directly from a corner to put Chelsea firmly in command. The visitors continued to press and extended their advantage when Estevao, who had earlier lifted an effort over the bar after rounding goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, finished confidently to make it 3-0.
Chelsea added a fourth when Neto completed his hat trick, again combining effectively with Delap. Hull struggled to regain momentum, and their frustration showed as John Lundstram and Joe Gelhardt were both cautioned during a second half that featured several substitutions.
Lewis Koumas struck the post in stoppage time, but Hull were unable to reduce the deficit as Chelsea recorded their eighth win in 11 matches under Rosenior in all competitions.
In North Wales, Wrexham edged past Ipswich Town in their fourth round tie. Josh Windass scored the only goal in the 34th minute, and the home side maintained their defensive structure for the remainder of the match. The result sees Wrexham reach the last 16 of the FA Cup for the first time since the 1996 to 97 season.
Chelsea will now await the fifth round draw as they continue their FA Cup campaign, while Wrexham’s progression adds another notable chapter to their cup run.
