New Delhi: Hull City held Chelsea to a costly goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.
On-loan Ricardo Quaresma was in the starting XI, but he couldn't inspire the Blues and visitors Hull City will be glad of the away point.
Prior to the game's kick-off Nicolas Anelka opined that despite still being in the title race, Chelsea had run out of ideas. That statement remained a brazen truism as the Blues struggled to out-play an off-form Hull City.
Ricardo Quaresma, who was brought in on loan from Italian giants Internazionale, was supposed to provide Chelsea with options in the midfield. He can run with the ball at feet with acceleration, and could be a useful weapon in a Blues midfield that has oft-been criticised as being too one-paced.
The Portuguese international made his bow this afternoon, but it was one to forget as he was - like he had been in Serie A - largely underwhelming.
Chelsea gave Hull some food for thought with some play that could have borne fruit, but instead the visitors just about held on. Nicolas Anelka had the better of Andy Dawson on the flank, but Ian Ashbee was on guard to sufficiently clear the danger.
It was to prove a continuing theme as even Frank Lampard's delivery from set-play was duly contained by Hull, and played out of the troublesome areas.
Eventually Hull played themselves into the game when Geovanni attempted a long-range shot from an acute angle. The Brazilian was clearly trying to test reserve 'keeper Hilario early on, but to no avail.
Quaresma, who succumbed to dramatics within the first few minutes, played some nice balls and began some interesting forward motions, but his debut was to get no better from there.
Lampard looked like Chelsea's greatest goal threat, but even he could not break down Hull's rearguard from either long-range, or from dead-ball situations.
After the break and the same motif was still prevalent. Turner and Zayette continued to be equal to Quaresma and Lampard's crossing, and the home crowd began to vent their frustrations.
In an attempt to add to Chelsea's attacking impetus, Luiz Felipe Scolari brought off Quaresma in place of Didier Drogba, but even the Ivorian couldn't turn the tide in the home side's favour.
With hindsight, it could have been wise to bring off Mikel. Hull were only playing with one striker, and the protection that Mikel was offering was not really needed, and could have easily been sacrificed in order to make a positive switch.
Hull ground out the result though, the game remained goal-less, and the Blues lost even more ground on league leaders Manchester United, and Aston Villa.
Line-ups
Chelsea: Hilario, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Quaresma, Ballack, Lampard, Kalou, Anelka.
Hull City: Duke, Ricketts, Turner, Zayatte, Dawson, Garcia, Ashbee, Marney, Kilbane, Geovanni, Fagan.
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