Chelsea bagged a third successive win in the Premier League after overcoming Fulham 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Noni Madueke was the sole change from the Blues side that started the 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg, with Armando Broja stepping in to take his place.
Fulham appeared uncomfortable right from the onset and struggled to clear their lines before seeing Conor Gallagher curl over target well around the six-yard area.
Broja was next up to look to give the host the perfect start when he raced in at the near post to meet a cross from Enzo Fernandez, but nodded wide of the mark.
The Cottagers didn’t enjoy any forward momentum, as the host remained buoyant where a ball wide of the area found Cole Palmer who cut in to draw a low save off Bernd Leno.
Chelsea would make their solid count on the cusp of halftime when Sterling entered the box to get a shot away only to be clipped by Diop and win a penalty which Palmer dispatched with ease.
Sterling was denied a goal of his own five minutes in the second half as good hold-up play from Broja led to a delivery in the area which the former attacked to head off the post.
In a quest for momentum, a double substitution from the Cottagers showed midway around the second period in Bobby De-Cordova Reid for Harry Wilson and Timothy Castagne ahead of Kenny Tete.
There were a bit of joy for the Cottagers ahead of the final stages when Andreas Pereira’s short run-up resulted in a cross which Raul Jimenez attacked to draw a sprawling save off Dorde Petrovic.
Jimenez was in again with a similar opportunity through a square pass this time by Willian, but Petrovic was up for it once more.
Chelsea were denied a second with a minute to go when Gallagher’s snap shot from a loose cross by Madueke hit the upright, but the missed chance didn’t matter as the Blues claimed three straight wins for the first time this season.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
Click HERE to register!
