Chelsea host Hull this Saturday. A match that looks set to be one-sided as the league leading Blues look to banish the defeat to Spurs way into history. Hull were the side that Chelsea beat after consecutive defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool earlier in the season, the Tigers were the team that started off Chelsea’s remarkable winning run.

Hull’s chances of victory will be lingering in single figure percentages, but they are a different animal under Marco Silva. Goalscorers have arrived: Abel Hernandez scored a brace upon his return last weekend and there is at least an air of belief that they can escape relegation. It would be one of the greatest escapes in Premier League history if they did, that’s for sure.

Revitalised by the managerial change, Hull will still be pessimistic about their chances. They will have earmarked matches where they should pick up points and this certainly is not one of them. The upside of that, though, is they can play with some freedom and relax. Relaxing against a team who are under the pressure of sitting top of the table can be a recipe for success.

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Antonio Conte’s side, however, looked back to their very best as they thrashed Leicester last weekend. Even with the Diego Costa saga lingering over them, which meant their top scorer and talisman was not even in the matchday squad, Chelsea battered the champions. The interchanging of Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian made the Blues a more threatening attacking force, if anything.

Hull will be resolute and well organised, but Chelsea’s performance against Leicester did not resemble a side about to crumble after their first defeat in quite some time. How Chelsea reacted to the end of their winning streak was always going to be the biggest test of their season and, with the victory over Peterborough in the FA Cup equally comfortable, there is no sign of Conte’s Blues letting up.

While at least one of the chasing pack will drop points this weekend, due to Spurs and Manchester City playing one another, Chelsea can stretch their lead at the top of the table. With a tough run of fixtures approaching, they need another convincing display to build momentum ahead of a pivotal month of matches. All of their winter victories can be abolished if they begin to splutter in spring, this is when the heat rises, metaphorically and literally.

Drawing or losing are not options for Chelsea. An expectant Stamford Bridge crowd will await an emphatic victory on Saturday. The Blues are reaching the point of the season where the pressure shifts: it is no longer on teams to catch Chelsea, but rather it is on the Blues to walk to the title. The surprise of their winning streak and comfortable lead at the top of the table has been forgotten, Chelsea winning the league is in the process of become an expectation, not a prediction. And that makes every win that bit harder.

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