Chelsea Edge Past Fulham in Tense West London Derby
Chelsea extended their winning run at Stamford Bridge to six matches and claimed bragging rights in the West London derby with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday lunchtime.
Marco Silva’s Fulham put up a valiant effort, frustrating the home crowd and creating several anxious moments for the Blues. However, it was Cole Palmer’s 9th Premier League goal of the season, expertly converted from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time, that proved the difference.
The Blues received a welcome boost with Ben Chilwell, Benoit Badiashile, and Carney Chukwuemeka all fit enough for the bench, while Fulham’s Willian returned to face his former employers.
As anticipated, Chelsea dominated possession in the early stages, reminiscent of their EFL Cup clash with Liverpool, but Fulham’s resolute defense prevented any clear-cut chances. Conor Gallagher’s weak shot and Armando Broja’s wayward header were the closest Chelsea came in the first quarter of an hour.
Fulham threatened on the counter, with Dorde Petrovic making two excellent saves to deny Andreas Pereira and Harry Wilson. Just as the first half seemed destined to end goalless, Raheem Sterling was tripped by Issa Diop in the box, allowing Palmer to coolly dispatch the penalty under pressure.
The controversial Malo Gusto tackle on Willian, which only resulted in a yellow card, added to the first-half drama.
Both sides upped the tempo in the second half, with Palmer and Raul Jimenez testing the goalkeepers early on. Fulham pressed for an equalizer but lacked the cutting edge, with Jimenez failing to trouble Petrovic from a Pereira cross.
Chelsea brought on Chilwell for his first appearance since September to shore up the defense, while Fulham introduced Noni Madueke to add some attacking spark. Madueke deflected a cross onto Gallagher’s foot, but the Englishman’s clever attempt struck the post, keeping Fulham’s hopes alive.
Willian had a golden opportunity to haunt his former club with a free-kick just outside the box, but his effort curled just over the bar. Chelsea held firm despite late scrambles and ultimately secured the victory, extending their winning streak and asserting their derby dominance.
This tense encounter showcased the fierce rivalry between these West London neighbors, with Chelsea ultimately emerging victorious thanks to Palmer’s penalty and their resolute defense. Fulham, despite a spirited performance, remain frustrated in their pursuit of points while Chelsea continue to march on.
