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 13:37 · Nathan Jacobs]

79 mins: 

Another free-kick which is too easy to gather as Hazard's effort is gathered by Rico with no issue. 

[2 December 2018 13:39 · Nathan Jacobs]

81 mins: GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Fulham (Loftus-Cheek) 

What a goal! 

This might wake up some inside Stamford Bridge as slick passing leads to Loftus-Cheek scoring on his 50th Premier League appearance. 

It is one touch football at its finest with the last of the passes coming from Eden Hazard who hasn't been his vintage self today. 

The Englishman sidefoots it beyond Rico though and Chelsea now have the breathing space they so craved. 

[2 December 2018 13:40 · Nathan Jacobs]

83 mins: Fulham not giving up just yet though and Seri takes range from outside the area and forces Kepa into a save. 

[2 December 2018 13:40 · Nathan Jacobs]

Alvaro Morata booked for a bit of petulance in kicking the ball away.

[2 December 2018 13:45 · Nathan Jacobs]

88 mins: Fulham still trying to press and won a corner which came to nothing. 

[2 December 2018 13:46 · Nathan Jacobs]

3 minutes of additional time to be added. 

[2 December 2018 13:47 · Nathan Jacobs]

90+1 mins: Kamara tries a ridiculously speculative shot from 30+ yards out which unsurprisingly flies well over the bar. 

[2 December 2018 13:49 · Nathan Jacobs]

90+2 min: Last minute corner for Fulham is headed away for a goal kick. 

[2 December 2018 13:53 · Nathan Jacobs]

FULL TIME! Chelsea 2-0 Fulham 

The first derby of the day ends with a relatively comfortable Chelsea victory as goals from Pedro and Loftus-Cheek move the Blues up to third in the table ahead of their midweek clash against Wolves. 

Fulham meanwhile remain in the relegation places and will be looking to make the most of their game against Leicester on Wednesday. 

Chelsea weren't at their vintage best today but it's a results business and they are now seven points behind the leaders Manchester City.