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Alonso wants 'boring' wins after Chelsea-Hull draw

Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso expressed a desire for straightforward, unexciting victories after his side were held to a 2-2 draw by Hull City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Morgan Rogers opened the scoring early for the hosts, but Hull responded before the break with two strikes from Mohamed Belloumi to seize the advantage.

Although João Pedro brought the Blues level in the 65th minute, and a late Mohamed-Ali Cho effort required a sharp denial from goalkeeper Emi Martínez, neither side could find a winner. The stalemate leaves Chelsea without a shutout in twenty consecutive league fixtures, having already conceded nine times across their initial four domestic matches.

The outcome preserves an impressive start for newly promoted Hull under manager Sergej Jakirovic, whose squad remains undefeated following earlier triumphs over Manchester United and Coventry City alongside a tie against Aston Villa. Having satisfied his targeted early-season points total, Jakirovic intends to reward his coaching personnel with a full week of leave during the approaching international hiatus.