Chelsea edge past Fulham to win three-straight games

Cole Palmer’s first half penalty kick gave Chelsea a 1-0 win in an edgy encounter against Fulham on Saturday as Mauricio Pochettino’s side have now won three-straight Premier League games.

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The lone goal of the game came just before half time as Raheem Sterling went down in the box and Cole Palmer stepped up to make it five from five from the penalty spot this season. Pochettino’s side hit the post through Conor Gallagher and created the better chances throughout but Fulham were dangerous on the counter and Djordje Petrovic was forced to make a couple of big stops.

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With the win, their fourth in their last five games, Chelsea move on to 31 points and are nine points off the top four. Fulham have 24 points and have now lost four of their last five in the Premier League and are looking over their shoulders towards the relegation zone a little nervously.

Blues learning how to grind it out

It’s not great viewing but Chelsea have quietly won three in a row and four of their last five in the Premier League. They needed to. Most importantly, they needed to find ways to win games. Pochettino’s side showed plenty of style and creativity in the early months of the season but struggled to convert chances and were punished. Now, they’re less exciting to watch but they’re getting the job done. They’ve found a balance in the team, injuries are calming down and they can play with a higher intensity defensively for longer. Fulham still had a couple of chances on the counter but Chelsea limited them and did the basics well. They were still a little wasteful in attack but Cole Palmer, Conor Gallagher and Raheem Sterling give them enough creativity to create openings and the presence of Armando Broja gives them a focal point to sustain and build attacks. It hasn’t been pretty for Chelsea but they’ve finally shown they can grind out wins when they’re not at their best and that has put them back in touching distance of the top six. Finishing in the top four will still be a big ask for this season but Chelsea have shown they are learning and they’re not making the same naive mistakes from earlier in the season.

Chelsea vs Fulham player ratings

Via our friends at FotMob.com, you can see Chelsea’s midfield and defense had a really good day. Colwill was busy at left back and defended well and offered plenty in attack. Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher were once again influential in the final third and the duo of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo broke up play really well with the former also getting forward well and whipping in some lovely crosses. Fulham’s Antonee Robinson and Willian linked up well, as always, down the left and caused Chelsea a lot of problems.

What’s next?

Chelsea host Aston Villa on Friday, Jan. 26 in the FA Cup fourth round and are next in Premier League action on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at Liverpool. Fulham host Newcastle on Saturday, Jan. 27 in the FA Cup, then host Everton on Tuesday, Jan. 30 in the Premier League.

How to watch Chelsea vs Fulham live, stream link and start time

Kick off: Saturday, 7:30am ET (January 13)TV Channel: USA NetworkOnline: Stream via NBC.com

Chelsea vs Fulham live updates!

Full time: Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

The Blues held on rather comfortably in the end but that was not pretty. Still, Pochettino will be happy with a third-straight win and the table is looking a lot better for Chelsea than it did a few weeks ago.

Chelsea hit the post, Fulham go close

So close to a second late on for Chelsea and that would have surely sealed the win. A cross from the right is sliced beautifully towards goal by Gallagher and it hits the post. Moments later at the other end Colwill gives away a free kick right on the edge of the box and Willian curls it just over, much to his disgust.

Fulham go close on the break

Chelsea look vulnerable on the counter as Andreas Pereira runs free and picks out Jimenez at the back post as Enzo Fernandez slips. Jimenez gets his shot on target but Petrovic saves. Just over 15 minutes to go.

Sterling hits the post but he was offside

Enzo Fernandez clips in another delightful cross and Sterling heads against the post from eight yards out as he didn’t get enough on it. He should have scored but replays show he was just offside.

Half time: Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

Chelsea had the better chances in the first half but Fulham were hanging in there. The awarding of that controversial penalty kick right on half time led to Cole Palmer slotting home and Chelsea have the advantage. Fulham are still in this because Chelsea haven’t been great.

Cole Palmer slots home a penalty right on half time - Chelsea 1-0 Fulham (49th minute)

10 seconds before half time, a lovely ball from Cole Palmer finds Raheem Sterling inside the box and Issa Diop catches him, but it is very light contact. Still, a penalty kick is awarded by Anthony Taylor and Diop knows he caught Sterling. That is a very soft penalty kick. Cole Palmer steps up and slots home.

Malo Gusto lucky to stay on

Oh my. The replays of that Malo Gusto tackle on Willian do not do the Chelsea right back any favors. He was booked but probably should have been sent off. Very similar to this challenge against Aston Villa which saw him sent off earlier this season. Malo Gusto is very lucky.

Good save from Petrovic

That is a lovely Fulham break down the left as Willian plays in Antonee Robinson and the USMNT left back whips a perfect cross to the back post for Wilson who gets his shot on target but Petrovic saves well down to his left.

Big chance for Broja

After good work from Raheem Sterling, Enzo Fenrnadez has acres of space on the left and has so much time (how do you leave him that open!?) to look up and clip a cross to Broja at the near post. The Albanian has a free header but has to generate the power himself and heads wide. Really good chance for Chelsea.

Hosts start well

Chelsea have started the better of the two teams with Enzo Fernandez having a shot blocked after good play down the right, while Armando Broja is getting in-behind Fulham but has yet to pick the right option when it comes to a shot or a pass. Still, promising for the hosts. Fulham haven’t really connected many passes and they give it away in midfield again which leads to Gallagher firing just over.

Team news is intriguing

The team news is out at Stamford Bridge and Armando Broja starts up top in Chelsea’s only change from their midweek defeat at Middlesbrough. Chilwell, Chukwuemeka and Badiashille are back on the bench after their injuries, which is a boost, while it looks like Palmer will play in one of the wide positions up top. Fulham make a few changes with Tete, Cairney and Wilson all starting as both teams will play a very similar 4-2-3-1 formation.

Chelsea lineup

Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sterling, Gallagher, Palmer; Broja.

Fulham lineup

Leno; Tete, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; Wilson, Pereira, Willian; Jimenez

Focus on Chelsea, team news

The Blues continue to struggle with injuries and Pochettino has been trying to ease Armando Broja back in to the lineup. The Albanian striker should start this game up top and he seems to give Chelsea a much better focal point to their attack and allows the likes of Sterling, Palmer and Gallagher to get further up the pitch.

OUT: Nicolas Jackson (international duty), Romeo Lavia (undisclosed), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Reece James (thigh), Robert Sanchez (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Christopher Nkunku (hip)

Focus on Fulham, team news

The Cottagers have a few key players away on international duty (Iwobi and Bassey are at AFCON) but Tim Ream has returned from his calf issue. Raul Jimenez has been in really good form in recent weeks and he and former Chelsea winger Willian will look to lead Fulham’s charge on the counter.

OUT: Adama Traore (hamstring), Calvin Bassey (international duty), Alex Iwobi (international duty), Fode Ballo-Toure (international duty)