Player Ratings: Chelsea midfield and defense bailed out by Chelsea forwards

Chelsea may still be looking for that complete team performance that has eluded us since at least the 5-0 away to Swansea, but at least we got some decent and efficient attacking output in this one, and not just from Eden Hazard.

That being said, it was once again Hazard who drove the team forward and his early goal looked to set us on our way to an easy, relaxing victory.  Alas, it was not meant to be.  But it was the 24-year-old's third goal in his last four games, solidifying his claims for not only Chelsea's player of the season, but for the Premier League's most outstanding player as well.

Hazard scored with Chelsea's first shot on goal; Costa scored with Chelsea's second shot on goal.  It was a wonderful, pretty, technical, curling effort, one not often seen from the man whom Hull City was quite clearly trying to wind up all game.  Joke's on them of course; Costa thrives on streetball tactics.

It was his his 19th goal of the season (20th if you count Kyle Walker's own goal as not an own goal), and his 19th in the Premier League.  The next league goal will already draw him level with the man he replaced (and who's now back at Atletico in place of Diego) as far as league goals are concerned.  Costa also seems to be improving in his hold-up / aerial game, giving Courtois another target when Ivanovic is told to stay back (and/or just plays poorly).  Yey, proper strikers!

And I do mean strikers.  Many have been crying out for more playing time for the backup striker not named Didier Drogba and Remy did not disappoint, scoring the winning goal with his first (or was it his second?) touch after coming on for the injured Costa.  It was Chelsea's third and last shot on target.  Three goals from three shots on goal:  efficient, though not consistently reproducible.  But we'll take it.

While Diego is expected to be back after the international break, perhaps Remy did earn himself a few more minutes with such a clutch performance.