Fulham 0 Chelsea 2
Fulham welcomed Chelsea to Craven Cottage for a West London derby to savour with Mauricio Pochettino’s start as manager of The Blues starting to seem like something written by Stephen King. The Cottagers had a mixed bag of results so far this season but importantly had managed two wins in the process.
Fit again Armando Broja started for Chelsea and when he was fed the ball he darted towards the box and rounded Leno before firing his shot into row S. Fortunately for him, the assistant had raised their flag so it would not have counted anyway.
Chelsea were soon to take the lead when Ukraine’s most expensive mistake since they told Vladimir Putin where to go, came up trumps. Mykhailo Mudryk took a Colwill pass on the chest and tucked the ball under the advancing Fulham keeper.
Only a minute later, Broja was slotting a second past Leno as Fulham went all keystone cops in defence once again. Marco Silva is going to have his work cut out to tighten things up at the back this season or it could be a long haul for their fans.
Credit: @ChelseaFC
The travelling Chelsea contingent were enjoying their short trip to Craven Cottage and as Fulham struggled to create any chances it seemed like it was going to be a routine win. As the second half started, Thiago Silva went to ground holding his head like a meteor had struck him.
Replays showed that he had been caught by the arm of Vinicius but certainly not with the force that justified the Brazilian’s reaction. The referee showed the Fulham player a yellow card but VAR decided there was no more action to be taken.
Gallagher got to the byline for Chelsea and cut it back to Maatsen on the penalty spot but as he opened his body up to strike, his effort came thundering back off the post. Fernandes followed up but Leno was able to block his shot.
Willian was the only player causing any problems for the hosts but as he came forward, Silva’s side managed to work the ball to Cairney with the goal gaping but he struck his effort straight at Sanchez who made a routine stop. Either side of the Chelsea keeper and it was a goal.
This was the only real chance Fulham created in the entire game and Chelsea were able to hold on for the win, much to the delight of Pochettino.
Sanchez now has the most clean sheets of any keeper this season but they have come against Luton Town, Bournemouth and Fulham. Not exactly the most free-scoring sides in the Premier League but the new Chelsea keeper will take his wins wherever he can get them at the moment.
Credit: @ChelseaFC
Marco Silva would give anything for a prolific striker right now but then again so would Chelsea, who have been searching for one for about ten years now.
The win took Chelsea up to eleventh in the table and the heady heights of the top half of the Premier League table. Fulham dropped to thirteenth albeit five points away from the bottom three.
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