There really is never a dull moment at Chelsea, on or off the field.
At the end of a week when their boardroom power struggle moved towards resolution, manager Xabi Alonso is no closer to sorting out the balance of his chaotic team.
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And football is all the better for it, with Hull playing a full part in another thriller.
The Blues score for fun but cannot defend for toffee.
Their tricky trio combined to great effect again, with Joao Pedro teeing up Morgan Rogers for their first goal and Cole Palmer crossing for Pedro to make it 2-2.
But in between, Chelsea showed the same vulnerability playing in a new-look back four as they had with three central defenders.
An error by Jorrel Hato gifted Mo Belloumi his first goal, and a rush of blood to the head by goalkeeper Emi Martinez led to the Algerian’s second as Sergej Jakirovic’s side stunned Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have not kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since January, a run of 20 games with three different goalkeepers.
Both sides had chances to claim victory. Neither could take them, but neutrals were once more the winners.
From start to finish, this was Chelsea’s latest attempt to bring back the glory days of the Barclays.
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Saturday 12 September
Bournemouth
2 – 2
EPL
Brentford
Villa
1 – 2
EPL
Forest
Chelsea
2 – 2
EPL
Hull
Palace
2 – 3
EPL
Ipswich
Liverpool
0 – 0
EPL
Fulham
Spurs
17:30
Live Teams
Everton
Sunderland
20:00
EPL
Arsenal
Saturday 12 September
Liverpool
0 – 0
EPL
Fulham
Palace
2 – 3
EPL
Ipswich
Chelsea
2 – 2
EPL
Hull
Villa
1 – 2
EPL
Forest
Bournemouth
2 – 2
EPL
Brentford
Sunday 6 September
Arsenal
2 – 1
EPL
Chelsea
English Premier League
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
9
5
3
0
0
2
3
9
5
3
0
0
3
4
8
3
2
2
0
4
4
7
1
2
1
1
5
4
6
3
1
3
0
6
4
6
2
1
3
0
7
4
6
-3
2
0
2
8
3
5
2
1
2
0
True, the eighth minute was the longest their fans had had to wait for a goal so far in the Premier League.
But when Rogers continued his own fast start to life at a new club, hopes were high.
The Blues survived a dangerous corner and the front three moved the ball across the field, from Palmer to Pedro to Rogers.
The England star surged past Regan Slater with ease and hit a firm left-footed shot past the badly-positioned Konstantinos Tzolakis and inside the near post.
It was the first time Hull had conceded in the league and a second looked to be in the post.
John Egan had to cut out a Malo Gusto cross, then Tzolakis saved from Pedro Neto.
Chelsea’s set pieces, orchestrated theatrically by Austin MacPhee from the technical area, were also causing the visitors some problems.
But then Hull equalised out of absolutely nothing.
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A long ball down the left flank was just about collected by full back Ryan Giles. As his slow, high cross looped into the penalty area, Giles must have been tempted to start running back to his own half.
But Hato watched the ball bounce and then go over his head to where Belloumi was waiting to crash home a first-time effort.
The visiting fans had already been in good voice and good humour. Moments later, there was bedlam in their section of the Shed End.
Another ball in from the left fell to captain Lewie Coyle, whose low shot was deflected behind by Levi Colwill’s block.
From the resulting corner, Martinez made an ill-judged charge from his line. Semi Ajayi easily beat him to it, only for his header to come back off the bar.
But McBurnie reacted quickest and laid the ball back into Belloumi’s path. The Algerian’s shot took a deflection – it seemed off the hapless Hato – and nestled in the net.
Chants of “We are top of the league” were soon followed by “We’re gonna win the league”.
The sun was out, it was still September, so why not?
Jakirovic was furious when Tzolakis was almost guilty of another error leading to a goal, when he allowed Pedro to charge down his attempted clearance.
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Belloumi blocked a Gusto shot to send Hull into the break ahead.
Alonso had to act after his latest experiment had failed and it was no surprise to see Hato replaced by Pep Chavarria.
The home team took charge and the visitors were having to resort to some pretty agricultural challenges.
The Duke of Wellington famously said of his troops: “I don’t know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but, by God, they frighten me.”
Hull’s big strapping lads will have a similar impact on many teams.
Egan and Matt Crooks were booked for full-blooded fouls on Chavarria and Rogers respectively, either side of Reece James trying to catch out Tzolakis again at his near post with a free kick.
Then Palmer stood up a cross to the back post where Nobel Mendy stopped Pedro converting and came off worst in the clash of heads, which forced him off.
Back came Hull. Martinez spilled a less-than-fearsome shot by Slater but recovered to stop McBurnie putting in the rebound.
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Sorba Thomas, barely a day after rolling his Range Rover on the way to training, came on as part of a double winger change, and immediately looked lively.
But then Chelsea equalised. Palmer crossed from the left for Pedro, who rifled home to set up the last 25 minutes of the game perfectly.
The home team were clear favourites to find a winner.
Ajayi eased Gusto off the ball, Tzolakis saved from James and Palmer rejected the chance for a first-time shot with his right foot, only for one with his left to be blocked.
As the clock ticked down, Tzolakis saved from Rogers.
Then Stamford Bridge held its breath as a Giles cross was met by substitute Mohamed-Ali Cho, only for Martinez to make a good stop.
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The football gods – and timekeepers – offered up six minutes of added time.
There were close things, and the drama was not over until Palmer sent a free kick well over the bar with the last kick of the game.