Chelsea bounce back from first loss with derby win over Fulham
By Bob Bensch,
London - By Bob Bensch,– Chelsea rebounded from their first Premier League loss of the season last week by grinding out a 2-0 win over Fulham on Sunday.
Pedro Rodriguez and Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored the goals that continued Chelsea's domination of the west London derby.
Chelsea, outplayed in losing 3-1 at Tottenham a week ago, have lost just one of the 27 Premier League meetings with Fulham and are unbeaten in the last 17.
The win lifts them into third place and one point above Tottenham, who play at Arsenal later, while Fulham remain bottom of the table.
"It's very important to win and get confidence again," Pedro told Sky Sports.
"I am very happy for the team and the three points."
Chelsea needed all of four minutes to breach the league's worst defence.
N'Golo Kante took the ball from Jean Michael Seri and drove forwards before playing a pass into the area for Pedro, who sent a shot into the bottom far corner.
Fulham keeper Sergio Rico denied Olivier Giroud from close range just before the break and Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga twice saved from Calum Chambers in the second half.
Rico later made another diving stop against Eden Hazard with Alvaro Morata skying the rebound well over the gaping goal.
Loftus-Cheek, who came on in the second half, then took a return pass from Hazard and fired home the clincher in the 82nd minute.
"It was a tough game," Loftus-Cheek said. "We needed that second goal, they looked dangerous at times."
Liverpool and Everton square off in the Merseyside Derby at Anfield in the day's final match.
The win lifts them into third place and one point above Tottenham, who play at Arsenal later, while Fulham remain bottom of the table.
"It's very important to win and get confidence again," Pedro told Sky Sports.
"I am very happy for the team and the three points."
Chelsea needed all of four minutes to breach the league's worst defence.
N'Golo Kante took the ball from Jean Michael Seri and drove forwards before playing a pass into the area for Pedro, who sent a shot into the bottom far corner.
Fulham keeper Sergio Rico denied Olivier Giroud from close range just before the break and Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga twice saved from Calum Chambers in the second half.
Rico later made another diving stop against Eden Hazard with Alvaro Morata skying the rebound well over the gaping goal.
Loftus-Cheek, who came on in the second half, then took a return pass from Hazard and fired home the clincher in the 82nd minute.
"It was a tough game," Loftus-Cheek said. "We needed that second goal, they looked dangerous at times."
Liverpool and Everton square off in the Merseyside Derby at Anfield in the day's final match.