Chelsea 2-0 Fulham: Ruben Loftus-Cheek helps Blues return to winning ways in west London derby

Chelsea 2-0 Fulham: Ruben Loftus-Cheek helps Blues return to winning ways in west London derby
Ruben Loftus-Cheek rounded off a lovely move as Chelsea returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Fulham.The substitute combined brilliantly with Eden Hazard to put the shine on a surprisingly difficult afternoon for the Blues.3

Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored his second league goal this season

It appeared as though the floodgates might open when Pedro put Chelsea ahead with a clever left-footed finish in the fourth minute.However, Fulham made things uncomfortable for their west London neighbours and forced Kepa Arrizabalaga into some crucial saves at 1-0.The Cottagers remain rooted to the bottom of the table despite notable improvement under Claudio Ranieri, while Chelsea climb above Tottenham into third ahead of the north London derby this afternoon.Ranieri returned to where he first came to prominence in English football, as Blues boss from September 2000 to May 2004.And it was one of his former players who created the opening goal.3

Pedro scored his fifth league goal of the season

N’Golo Kante, key in Leicester’s memorable title win in 2015-16, showed his midfield bite to dispossess Jean Michael Seri.Kante, criticised by Maurizio Sarri for his display in the previous week’s loss to Tottenham, strode forwards and fed Pedro on the right.The Spain winger cut in on his left and drilled a low shot across goal into the bottom corner.It was Kante’s second assist in 14 league games, as many as he managed in his first two seasons with Chelsea, as Antonio Conte’s shield in deep midfield.Fulham, without former Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle due to a twinge, pressed well, but rarely threatened, bar Calum Chambers’ 25-yard shot at Kepa.3

Arrizabalaga earned his clean sheet

Sergio Rico stood upright to save from Olivier Giroud, who had been preferred to Alvaro Morata, and then blocked a dangerous Giroud-bound Mateo Kovacic cross.There were missed-placed passes aplenty from both teams and little goalmouth action.Ranieri, known as the Tinkerman for rotating his options at Chelsea, had wanted more.He had promised to ‘tinker clever’ with Fulham, but needs must, and he made two half-time changes here.Ryan Sessegnon and Stefan Johansen were withdrawn for Floyd Ayite and Aboubakar Kamara, sparking improvement.Antonio Rudiger had to be alert to slide to redirect Cyrus Christie’s cross out for a corner. Chambers headed the resulting set-piece at Kepa. Tom Cairney next teed-up Chambers, whose effort was parried by Kepa.Chelsea could consider themselves fortunate it was not a more potent finisher than the on-loan Arsenal defender-turned-midfielder.Morata replaced the ineffective Giroud and should have scored within three minutes.Hazard’s shot was parried by Rico to Morata, whose volley went high and over when it should have ended up in the net.There were brief moments of skill from Hazard. He surged forwards, playing a one-two with Loftus-Cheek before having the vision to find the England midfielder again.And Loftus-Cheek netted a fierce drive to ease any late anxieties Chelsea might otherwise have had.

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