It is possible that Chelsea is prepared to improve in the Premier League, which is something that Mauricio Pochettino is eager to encourage. This was their third consecutive win in the league, bouncing back from their 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg and the subsequent criticism.
However, Pochettino must be aware that his team still appears inexperienced and somewhat vulnerable. They lack strength in key areas, making victories a struggle and leaving fans with doubts. This was evident in their recent win, where they barely scraped by and caused their supporters to question many aspects of the team. Chelsea, on the other hand, can thank Cole Palmer, their standout player in an inconsistent season, and his skill at taking penalties.
Palmer was the only shining light in an unmemorable match that resulted in Fulham’s fifth consecutive loss in an away league game. His impressive abilities, precise ball control, and ability to make accurate passes were a pleasure to watch. When the chance arose for him to take a penalty kick after Issa Diop fouled Raheem Sterling right before halftime, it was no surprise that he made it. This marks his fifth successful penalty kick in Chelsea’s uniform.
Chelsea’s unbeaten streak at Stamford Bridge had been ongoing since October, while Fulham’s struggles away from home were evident with their numerous losses. At the start of the game, they were aware that only two other teams in the league had worse records on the road, and their last victory at this venue was back in 1979, when it was in the second division. They have failed to score a goal here since 2011.
At the beginning, the home seats were quiet while most of the noise came from the visiting supporters. This could be due to the early start time or a general feeling of confusion towards the Chelsea team. Pochettino seemed agitated during the first half, constantly gesturing to his assistants in a visibly annoyed manner and even shouting in frustration at one point.
At the halftime break, Chelsea did not earn their lead, but thanks to Palmer’s precise pass to Sterling and a clumsy tackle from Diop, they were able to take the lead. Sterling was able to feel the contact on his leg and Palmer was able to celebrate his goal after a confident conversion.
Chelsea pressed up the field aggressively. They dominated the first half, but didn’t pose much of a threat in the attacking third. Fulham held their defensive formation and closely marked the Chelsea players. The away fans cheered as their team made strong tackles, led by Paulinha. However, Chelsea’s gameplay was slow and easy to anticipate; they passed the ball backwards and sideways too often.
Enzo Fernández attempted an early shot but it was blocked, while Conor Gallagher’s shot went high after a fast pass from Palmer. Chelsea’s sole clear opportunity before the penalty was when Fernández delivered a cross from the left, but Armando Broja’s header missed the target.
Fulham’s attacking performance was lackluster and unimpressive. This was evident when Axel Disasi chose to ignore a cross in the 44th minute, causing chaos in Chelsea’s six-yard box, with no Fulham player in sight to take advantage. Despite Andreas Pereira’s shot being easily saved by Djordje Petrovic and Harry Wilson’s near-post attempt being a stronger one from a dangerous Antonee Robinson cross, manager Marco Silva was left disappointed.
The outcome of the game could have been altered if Malo Gusto had been given a red card for a rough tackle on Willian in the 38th minute. He made contact with the former Chelsea player’s shin without even touching the ball. Despite being previously sent off for a similar offense against Aston Villa in September, Gusto was only shown a yellow card. The Carabao Cup semi-finals had set the tone for the match, with Chelsea still recovering from their loss to Teesside and Fulham feeling more confident after their close 2-1 defeat against Liverpool. The possibility of a historic west London derby cup final is still on the table.
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In the second half, Fulham needed to take a more active approach. Chelsea, on the other hand, struggled to make progress except for Palmer. The Chelsea fans were disappointed as Broja took too many touches and failed to make direct plays.
On the 53rd minute, Sterling hit the post even though it seemed like he was offside. Levi Colwill then carelessly lifted the ball too high. Can Fulham create a last-minute surprise? The previous events did not hint at that possibility.
Raúl Jiménez had a promising opportunity in the 73rd minute when Fernández lost his footing, but his shot was too close to Petrovic. Fulham pushed forward in the final minutes, with Willian missing a free-kick near the edge of the box, but it was Chelsea who came closest to scoring again. Gallagher hit the post and substitute Noni Madueke forced a great save from Bernd Leno.
Source: theguardian.com
