Smells like team spirit to Chelsea boss Antonio Conte

A delicious curling effort from Willian just past the hour mark set the Blues on their way to victory before Diego Costa's powerful strike six minutes later sealed the visitors' 2-0 triumph.

Conte had reacted to last week's 3-0 loss at Arsenal by dropping Branislav Ivanovic and switching to a three-man defence, and he was ultimately rewarded with a second clean sheet of the season.

Conte said: "Today we finished with a clean sheet and in this period it is not normal for us after conceding three goals and two goals, so it is very important for the confidence.

"It was a big change in the tactical aspect but we feel we must find the right solution to be more compact.

"We must trust in the world we are doing and it is important to understand we must play this way."

Conte's tactical switch appeared a distinct gamble in the opening stages with David Luiz looking vulnerable at the back and giving away an early free-kick from which Robert Snodgrass almost opened the scoring.

Ryan Mason forced another save out of Thibaut Courtois at the end of a first period in which Chelsea failed to muster a single shot on target - but Costa's influence transformed his side in the second half.

Conte added: "It is fantastic for us that he has now got six goals but I think that Diego has the opportunity to score in every game.

"It's important for him not only to score but he is working for the team and for me at the moment this is the most important thing.

"After two defeats it is never easy so I am pleased with the commitment and attitude of the players

We are working very hard and we see that is is the right way.

"We know we have to improve a lot but if we want to improve there is only one way, to work

All the players worked together very well and when they work together it is easier."

Hull boss Mike Phelan said he will use the international break to continue discussions about taking on the permanent job at the KCOM Stadium.

Phelan has been close to agreeing a deal and insisted there is "no panic" about his future despite the speculation continuing for longer than he would like.

Phelan said: "My future will take care of itself - I'm not in a position of panic or worrying too much about it.

"The talks I've had have been very, very good but then once people sleep on things they tend to change overnight and it was just a case of not being particularly happy with the uncertainty of the deal.

"I stressed that, so moving on we'll have another cake and a coffee and we'll discuss it."

Phelan added that he will take encouragement with the way his side contained Chelsea for the first period before the gulf in quality finally told after the break.

He said: "I was encouraged because in the first half we took Chelsea to certain limits and we created a few chances, but at this level when you get the chances against teams of this quality you have to take them.

"I felt we were the architects of our own demise - we gave the ball away very cheaply and our decision-making wasn't great, and we suffered the consequences."

Source : PA

Source: PA