Not the sweetest strike you’ll see. Not the sweetest strike of the game, in fact. But Loic Remy’s tentative prod which squirmed past goalkeeper Allan McGregor and trickled into the net was like a shot of nectar for Chelsea. Jose Mourinho may one day reflect on this late contribution from a striker he has rarely used as the moment when self-doubt was allayed and the Barclays Premier League title was secured. Having been 2-0 up inside nine minutes at Hull, courtesy of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, Chelsea had to prove they could banish this habit of throwing away the lead. But their not-so-reliable-anymore defence wobbled and creaked. Loic Remy strokes home the winner at the KC Stadium to give Chelsea a 3-2 victory against Hull CIty on Sunday afternoon . The French striker celebrates with team-mate Oscar after his goal saw the Blues extend their lead at the top of the Premier League . Remy ran over to the touchline to celebrate with the Chelsea staff as Jose Mourinho dishes out instructions to his team . Remy's effort squirmed under the legs of Hull City goalkeeper Allan McGregor to give Chelsea the three points . Abel Hernandez capitalises on Thibaut Courtois' mistake to get Hull City back on level terms against Chelsea on Sunday . The young Belgian goalkeeper tried to dribble past Gaston Ramirez with the ball but it fell to Hull striker Hernandez . Courtois looks dejected after his error during the first half of the Premier League fixture at the KC Stadium . Courtois apologises to his Chelsea team-mates after his mistake lead to an Abel Hernandez equaliser . HULL CITY: McGregor 5.5, Dawson 6.5, Bruce 6, McShane 6.5, Elmohamady 7.5, Livermore 6, Meyler 6 (Quinn 80 6), Ramirez 6.5 (Brady 80 6), Robertson 6.5 (Aluko 81 6), N'Doye 6.5, Hernandez 7. Subs not used: Rosenior, Davies, Sagbo, Harper. Booked: None . Goals: Elmohamady 26, Hernandez 28 . CHELSEA: Courtois 6.5, Ivanovic 6.5, Cahill 6.5, Terry 6.5, Luis 6, Fabregas 7, Matic 5, Willian 6 (Zouma 80 6.5), Ramires 5 (Oscar 61 6), Hazard 7.5, Costa 6.5 (Remy 75 7.5). Subs not used: Cech, Cuadrado, Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek. Booked: Cahill, Matic . Goals: Hazard 2, Costa 9, Remy 77 . Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland) Attendance: 24,598 . Match ratings by Neil Ashton . Chelsea cut through the Hull City defence for Loic Remy's winner -  click HERE for more of our brilliant Match Zone . Ahmed Elmohamady and Adel Hernandez levelled before half-time and Thibaut Courtois performed a breathtaking triple-save from three Hull players, mid-way through the second half, which Steve Bruce thought was the key moment. It was still 2-2 as the clock ticked towards 77 minutes and Cesc Fabregas rolled a pass to Willian on the Chelsea right. Willian found Remy and the substitute, only on for a few seconds after replacing the injured Costa, jabbed it towards McGregor, who was clearly expecting something else entirely because he was wrong-footed, unable to recover, and the ball slithered over the line. A thrilling game was settled by a scruffy goal and Chelsea’s cushion at the top of the table was plumped. ‘I’m pretty confident,’ said Mourinho. ‘We got what we deserved. We have a six-point lead, one match in hand and eight matches to go for our opponents. They can make 24 points. I believe in my players.’ Jose Mourinho looks disgruntled on the bench after watching his Premier Leaders throw away a two-goal lead in the first half . Ahmed Elmohamady netted Hull City's first goal to give them a route back into the match at the KC Stadium . The Egyptian wing-back runs back to the halfway line and is congratulated by his team-mates after his strike . Eden Hazard put Chelsea in front with a fine strike from outside the box within two minutes on Sunday afternoon . Hazard jumps for joy after his fine strike put Jose Mourinho's side into the lead in Hull . They had made such a brilliant start at the KC Stadium, where Hazard lashed in a beauty after only 78 seconds. Collecting a lay-off from Costa, he drove diagonally across the pitch before firing the ball back across goal with his left foot. From outside the penalty area, it sailed beyond McGregor’s dive. Even early on Chelsea’s frailties were in evidence. Hernandez was through and ought to have equalised. Played onside by Ivanovic, he collected a flick from Dame N’Doye, but could not beat Courtois who blocked with his body. When Costa made it 2-0, the contest seemed to be settled. Again, it was a splendid goal, lashed past poor McGregor from an angle. For the £32million Chelsea striker, it was his 20th of the season. The goal-rate has slowed since the turn of the year, and his temper simmered, as ever. There was a confrontation with Alex Bruce, when Costa accused the Hull manager’s son of swiping his legs away, and a flashpoint when Jake Livermore claimed to have been elbowed in his face. Referee Michael Oliver did not see the ‘elbow’, as he had not seen Costa’s stamp on Emre Can during the Capital One Cup semi-final. The pair have history going back to Costa’s first game in English football when the same referee booked him for a dive at Burnley. Hull reacted after a tactical switch from manager Bruce, who started with three at the back and moved to a 4-2-3-1 formation after going two down. The change did not stop left back Andy Robertson charging forward to create the first with a low cross, bundled in by Elmohamady. Within two minutes, the home team were level and panic descended on Chelsea at the back as they struggled to cope with a mixture of high balls and intense pressing. Courtois made a poor decision to take a touch on a back-pass from Ivanovic. The goalkeeper twisted past Gaston Ramirez, who was closing in, but his touch was too heavy, the ball rolled to Hernandez for a simple finish. Diego Costa doubled the visitor's advantage with a fine curing effort past Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor into the corner . Costa is embraced by team-mates Nemanja Matic and Filipe Luis after his strike at the KC Stadium . The Spanish international striker looks bemused by the corner flag after a decision doesn't go his way on Sunday . Costa endured a frustrating game after his goal and was eventually substituted . Eventual goalscorer Loic Remy came on for Costa in the second half as Chelsea pressed for a winner . After the break, Chelsea were brighter. Mourinho tweaked his midfield shape, sent on Oscar and controlled possession but Hull defended well and limited the visitors to long-range efforts. Courtois then produced his incredible triple save to thwart Elmohamday, Livermore and Ramirez, each flying stop better than the one before, and perhaps it energised his team to search for the winner. Even when Costa headed down the tunnel with the medics, Chelsea kept probing. Remy restored the lead and this time they did not surrender it. It was Remy’s sixth goal since an £8.5million move from Queens Park Rangers. ‘He probably deserves more than I gave him,’ said Mourinho. ‘There are not many times when a coach can feel he owes something to a player but with Remy that’s the case. Every time he plays he gives us a lot and he has never complained.’ Mourinho puffs his cheeks during a disappointing first period for the Premier League leaders on Sunday . South American duo Willian (left) and Gaston Ramirez (right) tussle for the ball by the sidelines at the KC Stadium . Costa was involved in a physical battle with Hull City duo Alex Bruce (left) and Michael Dawson (centre) all afternoon . Hazard looks up at the referee expecting a foul after hitting the deck at the KC Stadium . Jake Livermore squares up to Diego Costa during a physical Premier League encounter on Sunday . The Hull City fans display a 'In Bruce We Trust' banner at the KC Stadium on Sunday .
Loic Remy gives Chelsea all three points after coming on as a substitute for Diego Costa . Abel Hernandez scores equaliser for Hull City after Thibaut Courtois' error at the KC Stadium . Ahmed Elmohamady netted the hosts first goal after Chelsea stormed into a two-goal lead on Sunday . Fine strikes from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa put the Premier League leaders in control .