Chelsea bounce back from Spurs defeat to sweep aside Fulham in west London derby

Maurizio Sarri reflects on beating PAOK to win Europa League group

Goals in each half from Spain's Pedro and homegrown midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek earned Chelsea a 2-0 win over southwest London rivals Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday.

N'Golo Kante dispossessed Jean Michael Seri in the middle of the pitch in the fourth minute and sent a perfectly-weighted pass to Pedro who stepped inside and fired low with his left foot into the bottom corner.

Chelsea buzzed round their neighbours' goal for the rest of the half without finding a way through and bottom club Fulham, who won their first game under former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri last week, grew in confidence in the second half.

Fulham earned their best chances through the lively Calum Chambers who forced Kepa Arrizabalaga into two diving saves.

Yet their hopes were snuffed out in the 82nd minute when Eden Hazard fed substitute Loftus-Cheek and the England midfielder knocked the ball home.

The result lifted Chelsea above Tottenham Hotspur, who inflicted a first defeat of the season on Chelsea last week, and into third in the Premier League -- at least until the Arsenal-Tottenham derby later on Sunday.

Reuters

Re-live the action:

[2 December 2018 11:33 · Nathan Jacobs]

Good morning folks, Nathan Jacobs will be guiding you through all the action this afternoon as Derby Day gets underway in half an hour starting with Chelsea v Fulham in the West London Derby. 

Unlike the other two to come this afternoon, there is a clear favourite today in the shape of Chelsea but former boss Claudio Ranieri will be looking to haunt the Blues this time. 

He won his first game in charge last week, beating Southampton 3-2 at Craven Cottage but there's a much sterner test in front of them this afternoon.  

[2 December 2018 11:38 · Nathan Jacobs]

Here's how your hosts line up: 

[2 December 2018 11:39 · Nathan Jacobs]

Can Fulham cause them any problems? 

An interesting looking line up with Schurrle missing out entirely this afternoon. 

[2 December 2018 11:54 · Nathan Jacobs]

What are your predictions for this afternoon's score? 

Write them in the comments below... 

[2 December 2018 11:58 · Nathan Jacobs]

Errrmmm.... good luck lads.  

[2 December 2018 12:03 · Nathan Jacobs]

1 min: What a positive start from Fulham.

Chelsea take kick off but the ball makes its way to the Whites pretty swiftly and Christie takes the ball beyond the midfield towards the edge of the box and unleashes a shot which Kepa saves comfortably. 

Bright, though. 

[2 December 2018 12:03 · Nathan Jacobs]

3 mins: 

Encouraging signs for the visitors as they continue to probe going forward but they couldn't quite fashion the opportunity despite some neat play.

[2 December 2018 12:06 · Nathan Jacobs]

4 mins: GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham (Pedro) 

Ah. 

N'golo Kante comes back to bite Claudio Ranieri as the midfielder dispossesses Seri in the middle and runs with the ball. 

He passes the ball to Pedro inside the Fulham box who jinxes beyond the defenders with too much ease and strokes the ball into the bottom corner. 

Despite Fulham's good start they've been undone here and it'll be interesting to see how they respond.  

[2 December 2018 12:10 · Nathan Jacobs]

8 mins: CLOSE! 

Dennis Odoi plays the ball blind towards the left-wing and Le Marchand just about steps in front of Pedro to ensure there is no danger. 

[2 December 2018 12:17 · Nathan Jacobs]

15 mins: CHANCE FULHAM! 

Good football from Fulham leads to Calum Chambers finding space on the edge of the box. 

He has a runner to his right who he ignores before unleashing the shot which Kepa deals with. 

Fulham certainly still posing threats and the Fulham fans are making a good deal of noise to support their players.