Antonio Conte's side were staring three straight defeats in the face following losses to Liverpool and Arsenal, but they managed to get the job done this afternoon thanks to second-half goals from Willian and Diego Costa.

Hull, who are now winless in five league games, jumped out of the blocks at the kickoff as they forced a save from Thibaut Courtois in the third minute from a set piece.

David Luiz gave away the free kick after fouling Dieumerci Mbokani on the edge of the box, and it was well struck by Robert Snodgrass, who was denied a goal when Courtois clawed the ball away from under the crossbar.

Chelsea's defence had some nervy moments in the early stages of the first half, particularly when Luiz lost sight of Mbokani, who would have been through on goal had he not failed to control a long ball.

The visitors began to find their stride as the half progressed, with Costa coming close to opening the scoring when Willian fizzed a cross-shot across the face of goal, but the striker failed to get a touch on the ball.

At the other end, Ryan Mason toe-poked the ball from inside the box, but Chelsea, who rarely troubled goalkeeper David Marshall in the first half, cleared the danger.

Costa was involved again as he turned away from his markers after getting on the end of a long ball, but Willian failed to finish off the move when he met his teammate's cross.

Chelsea had a penalty denied in the first half, despite Adama Diomande making contact in a challenge on Victor Moses, but the winger's theatrical fall did not help his case.

After the break, Chelsea upped the tempo as Marcos Alonso forced a save from Marshall by drilling a low shot towards the bottom corner, and a few minutes later, Eden Hazard thumped a 20-yard shot at goal, but the keeper got hands on the ball.

N'Golo Kante took control of the middle of the park in the second half as he tried to play in Willian and Costa in quick succession, but he missed a big opportunity to score just before the hour mark.

After getting in behind Hull's defence, Costa got around the keeper and unleashed a shot, which was deflected off Jake Livermore onto the post. The ball dropped to Kante but he sent it high and wide.

After waves of attacks, Chelsea opened the scoring in the 61st minute when Willian cut inside the box before curling it into the top corner.

Six minutes later, Costa produced a similar goal as he picked up the ball after Nemanja Matic's blocked shot and swerved it into the back of the net.

The visitors had a second penalty claim denied when Willian got clipped by Curtis Davies in the box, but the referee opted against pointing to the spot as the Hull defender got a touch on the ball first.

Mike Phelan's side struggled to find a way back in the game, but they survived a further onslaught from the Blues.