Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw by Hull City in the Premier League, as defensive mistakes allowed Sergej Jakirovic's newly promoted side to come from behind twice and deny Xabi Alonso's team victory.
Chelsea's front three of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers have been nicknamed "JPMorgan" for the goals they have produced this season, having already won 3-2 against Fulham and 4-3 against Brighton. But their defence has resembled a piggy bank waiting to be smashed open at the slightest knock, as it was twice here after Rogers' opener.
Rogers put Chelsea ahead after six minutes and 16 seconds, continuing a pattern of fast starts. Chelsea had scored within the first five minutes of their previous three Premier League fixtures, against Fulham, Brighton and Arsenal.
Hull's equaliser arrived in the 28th minute after a basic defensive error. Jorrel Hato let a cross from Ryan Giles bounce in front of him and loop over his head, with fellow full back Malo Gusto having already failed to stop the delivery coming in from the left. Mohamed Belloumi was waiting behind Hato to blast the ball past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and make it 1-1.
It was the first goal Hull had conceded since their return to the Premier League. The leveller also extended an unwanted run for Chelsea, who have now failed to keep a clean sheet in 20 successive Premier League matches. Their last shutout came in a 2-0 home win over Brentford in January, which was Liam Rosenior's first league match in charge, at the start of what proved a doomed tenure as head coach.
Hato was substituted at half time.
Hull hit back again before the break
Hull took the lead in the 34th minute after more chaotic defending from Chelsea. Martinez flapped at a corner, Semi Ajayi headed the ball against the crossbar, and the rebound fell to Belloumi, who scored via two deflections that sent the ball ricocheting around Chelsea's six-yard box, making it 2-1.
Alonso later described his side's defending as "soft."
Jakirovic's bonus promise already paid out
Jakirovic revealed after the match that he had promised his staff a week off if Hull collected eight points from their opening five games of the season. They reached that target in four. Jakirovic's side have now won two, drawn two and lost none since returning to the Premier League, a start he said was no accident given how well his players have stuck to their strengths.
Sorba Thomas chant follows car crash
Hull's fans were in good voice throughout, singing "We're top of the league" and "We're gonna win the league," as well as a chant referencing winger Sorba Thomas, who crashed his car on the way to training this week: "Sorba Thomas, he parks where he wants."
Thomas flipped his Land Rover Defender upside down in the accident but escaped without injury, and he came on as a substitute during the match.
"You saw the images? He's Max Verstappen!" Jakirovic said afterwards. "No, no, everything is fine, thank God. It was an accident. It could happen to anyone."
Palmer and Joao Pedro rescue a point
Chelsea equalised while trailing 2-1 after Palmer carried the ball down the left flank and squared it for Joao Pedro, who finished well to make it 2-2. Joao Pedro is the Premier League's reigning player of the month.
Alonso made two late changes as he searched for a winner, replacing Gusto with Danny Welbeck after 78 minutes and introducing 19-year-old Brazilian forward Estevao after 86 minutes. Some Chelsea supporters feel Estevao deserves more playing time.
Defence finally catches up with Chelsea
Hull held on for the draw, meaning Chelsea's defensive frailties finally cost them a result after they had ridden their luck in the earlier wins over Fulham and Brighton. Alonso has now taken charge of six matches in all competitions this season, which have produced 30 goals in total.
It has been an exhilarating start for Chelsea's attack, but an exhausting one for their manager.
