Ruben Loftus-Cheek came off the bench to seal Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday as Maurizio Sarri's side returned to winning ways.
Aiming to bounce back from the defeat to Tottenham, the Blues raced into the lead after only four minutes through Pedro after N'Golo Kante won possession in midfield and played the 31-year-old in with a beautifully-weighted pass.
Chelsea dominated possession but their final ball was lacking and they didn't play with the intensity needed to open up a comfortable victory.
Pedro of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Fulham FC at Stamford Bridge on December 2, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
The Cottagers recovered well to going a goal down so early and they could have levelled the scores through Calum Chambers whose header from point-blank range was well saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Loftus-Cheek gave Chelsea slightly more control when he came on as a second-half substitute and he put the result beyond doubt with a composed finish from Eden Hazard's clever pass, after Alvaro Morata had spurned another great chance.
The victory lifts Chelsea temporarily into third, above Tottenham who play Arsenal later on Sunday in the North London Derby. Fulham remain rooted to the bottom.
TALKING POINT
A win is a win, but Sarri will not be satisfied with how his Chelsea side performed. It wasn't quite the reaction the Italian would have been hoping for following the dismal loss to Spurs. They dominated possession but with Eden Hazard not at the races, chances were at a premium as the Blues laboured their way to a narrow victory. It was another afternoon when Chelsea's lack of firepower was highlighted.
Chelsea's Italian head coach Maurizio Sarri watches from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford Bridge in London on December 2, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH
N'Golo Kante (Chelsea): His usual pressing and never ending running caused Fulham problems and led to Chelsea's opener, but the Frenchman is also looking more and more assured when in attack.
Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Pedro (R) shoots to score the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford Bridge in London on December 2, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Chelsea: Kepa 7, Alonso, Azpilicueta 6, Luiz 6, Rudiger 7, Kante 8, Jorginho 7, Kovacic 6, Pedro 8, Hazard 7, Giroud 5. Subs: Loftus-Cheek 7, Morata 4, Zappacosta 5.
Fulham: Rico 7, Sessegnon 5, Odoi 5, Mawson 6, Le Marchand 6, Chambers 8, Christie 6, Seri 6, Johansen 7, Cairney 6, Mitrovic 5. Subs: Ayite 5, Kamara 6. Kebano 5.
KEY MOMENTS
4' - GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham: Fulham are the makers of their own undoing. Odoi plays a square pass to Seri, but Kante races in to close him down and steal possession. He charges forward and plays a beautifully-weighted pass to Pedro who finishes with aplomb.
Pedro of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Fulham FC at Stamford Bridge on December 2, 2018
Image credit: Getty Images
43' - GOOD SAVE! Azpilicueta's drilled cross is met by Giroud's toe, forcing Rico into a really smart instinctive stop.
55' - CHANCE FOR FULHAM! Chambers towers above his marker to meet the corner delivery at the near post but Kepa keeps it out with a reactive save. That's the closest the Cottagers have come.
82' - GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Fulham: Loftus-Cheek scores his second goal of the season and that should make sure of Chelsea's points. It's a lovely free-flowing move from the Blues, with Hazard playing the final pass to set Loftus-Cheek up on a plate, and he does the rest.
KEY STATS
- Chelsea haven’t lost any of their last 11 home games in the Premier League (W6 D5) – their longest unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge in the competition since August 2015 (a run of 21 games).
- Ruben Loftus-Cheek has scored five goals in his last six games in all competitions, one more than he netted in his first 60 appearances in his professional club career (four goals).
- N'Golo Kante has provided as many assists in 14 league games for Chelsea this season (two) as he had in his first two seasons with the club combined (69 appearances).
- Pedro’s strike for Chelsea was their 1,000th home Premier League goal, becoming just the third club to reach this landmark in the competition after Manchester United (1,079) and Arsenal (1,029).
- Pedro has scored more Premier League goals in 12 appearances this season (five goals from 21 shots) than he managed in 31 such games in 2017-18 (4 from 56 shots).
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