£30m Chelsea striker Liam Delap faced intense scrutiny after a bizarre error cost him a goal in their FA Cup win over Hull. The 23-year-old, signed for a summer fee reported as £30m following Ipswich's relegation, celebrated prematurely when he thought he had scored in the 23rd minute. The ball had not crossed the line after he blocked a clearance from Hull keeper Dillon Phillips.

Delap's subsequent confusion – appealing to officials before collecting the loose ball – highlighted his struggles since his £30m move from Ipswich. He has only scored twice in 23 appearances, with his last goal coming in January's 2-1 defeat at Fulham. His error seemed to encapsulate his frustrating season, but he recovered impressively to finish with three assists as Pedro Neto scored a hat-trick and Willian added another goal.

Delap's performance, though flawed, demonstrated his potential as a creator. Former England striker Alan Shearer noted Delap's recovery, while Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior praised his ability to bring others into play despite his defensive lapses. Micah Richards hailed Delap as a versatile number nine, capable of being a "plan B" for the Blues.