Alonso laments defensive frailties as Chelsea draw with Hull

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso expressed frustration after his team squandered an early lead to draw 2-2 with Hull City in the Premier League on Saturday. The result extended a pattern of defensive frailties that has undermined the club's attacking prowess in the early weeks of the season. Morgan Rogers gave Chelsea the lead in the seventh minute, but Hull winger Mohamed Belloumi equalized after Chelsea failed to clear a long ball. Belloumi then put Hull ahead before halftime with a deflected shot. Cole Palmer set up Joao Pedro for Chelsea's equalizer in the 66th minute, but the home side could not find a winner. Alonso, who was hired in the close season to improve the team's fortunes after a disappointing 10th-place finish last term, acknowledged the recurring defensive issues. "Maybe entertaining, but I hope one day you'll say it was a boring game and we win and we don't give these entertaining moments," Alonso said. "It kind of repeats some patterns that we are making. It will take time to fix them." The draw means Chelsea have now conceded 12 goals in Alonso's six matches in charge.