Kalou double gives under-fire Grant his first win

NEW Chelsea coach Avram Grant can afford himself a welcome sigh of relief after seeing his Blues ease into the last 16 of the Carling Cup last night.

Goals from 18-year-old Scott Sinclair, Steve Sidwell and two for Salomon Kalou ensures there will be no uncomfortable inquest for Grant.

His tenure is already under close scrutiny due to him lacking the relevant coaching badges required to manage in the Barclays Premier League.

The likes of Marco van Basten and Jurgen Klinsmann have been linked with the role — speculation which was strongly refuted by Chelsea.

But at least Grant has a win under his belt — even if only against Coca-Cola Championship side Hull — which offers him a degree of breathing space.

Grant can initially thank Sinclair, whose delightful opener came eight minutes before the break at a time when Hull were growing in confidence.

This third-round tie was settled by two goals in the space of seven minutes at the start of the second half, with a Kalou header followed by a searing drive from Sidwell before the former doubled his tally late on.

But even taking into account this was a supposedly weakened Chelsea side, the divide in class was not apparent until the goals started to go in.

The appointment of the experienced, but unqualified Grant has done little to ease the anxiety of Blues fans fearful of the direction their club is now heading.

The question still remains as to how the players will take to Grant’s leadership, and whether they will respond to his methods as Abramovich seeks the entertaining football he has spent millions in the hope of watching.

After a bright Hull start Chelsea upped it a gear and after Myhill had saved from Wright-Phillips, the winger then teed up Sinclair for his first for the club on his fifth appearance.

McPhee almost levelled before the break, but then after it Kalou headed home his first of the season in the 48th minute followed four minutes later by Sidwell’s maiden goal since his summer move from Reading.

Credit to the Tigers as they refused to roll over and came close with sub Richard Garcia forcing a save from Cudicini, Ian Ashbee heading narrowly over the woodwork and Okocha shaving the bar with a rising free-kick.

In the end, it was Chelsea who added an exclamation point to the scoreline with Kalou sweeping home a low ball from substitute Joe Cole.

HULL: Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Brown, Delaney (Dawson 53), Okocha, Ashbee, Livermore, Elliott (Garcia 53), McPhee, Pedersen (Featherstone 73).

CHELSEA: Cudicini, Belletti, Ben-Haim, Terry, Ashley Cole (Bridge 65), Wright-Phillips (Joe Cole 49), Essien (Makelele 73), Sidwell, Kalou, Sinclair, Pizarro.

Referee: Chris Foy