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 12:18 · Nathan Jacobs]

Honour.  

[2 December 2018 12:19 · Nathan Jacobs]

Pedro celebrating with teammates after opening the scoring.

[2 December 2018 12:25 · Nathan Jacobs]

23 mins: CHANCE CHELSEA! 

Fantastic football from the Blues see them play out of Fulham's press. 

Jorginho switches the ball to Hazard on the left wing who takes the ball under his spell and slides a wonderful pass to match Giroud's run. 

The Frenchman takes one touch too many though and his angle is closed down by Rico. 

He gets his shot away which is saved and the ball bounces back off Giroud for a goal-kick. 

[2 December 2018 12:28 · Nathan Jacobs]

27 mins: Free-kick Chelsea David Luiz Range. 

A long ball into the path of Hazard is well collected and he is held up by Odoi. 

Free kick Chelsea... 

[2 December 2018 12:28 · Nathan Jacobs]

28 mins: Blocked by the wall and Fulham eventually get the goal-kick. 

[2 December 2018 12:33 · Nathan Jacobs]

33 mins: A largely inactive five or so minutes with Chelsea looking to wrestle control of the ball and the game and Fulham looking to make a dent. 

Neither side doing their bit all that effectively. 

[2 December 2018 12:34 · Nathan Jacobs]

34 mins: Corner Fulham

[2 December 2018 12:34 · Nathan Jacobs]

35 mins: Wasted and cleared by Chelsea with ease. 

[2 December 2018 12:37 · Nathan Jacobs]

36 mins: Another misplaced pass leads to a Chelsea chance! 

Christie's ball is intercepted and good work from Giroud, Hazard and Kovacic sees the Croatian wide of Fulham's box free to drill the ball in. 

He does so and Giroud's flick towards goal is blocked for a corner which is well dealt with. 

[2 December 2018 12:44 · Nathan Jacobs]

42 mins: CHANCE! 

Another chance comes and goes for Olivier Giroud but he cannot find the back of the net! 

Azpilicueta is bearing down into the Fulham box and finds Giroud with a lovely cross and the striker's flick towards goal is once again met by the frame of Sergio Rico. 

Fulham will be happy to take 1-0 into half-time.