Cole Palmer's first half penalty earned Chelsea a narrow 1-0 win over Fulham in the West London derby to continue their Premier League resurgence.
2023/2024 Premier League
1-0
Match Report
Pochettino vowed to bring smiles back to Chelsea faces in his matchday programme notes following the midweek loss at Middlesbrough but they were slow to get going before the opener.
Armando Broja headed an Enzo Fernandez cross narrowly wide but otherwise struggled to make an impact up front, with Fulham repelling Chelsea's attacks and threatening at the other end too.
The visitors went close to breaking the deadlock just before the half-hour mark when Harry Wilson, getting some joy up against makeshift Chelsea left-back Levi Colwill, forced a sharp save from Petrovic from Antonee Robinson's teasing cross.
Chelsea then had a close shave when right-back Malo Gusto caught former Blue Willian on the ankle with his studs. The travelling fans called for a red card but referee Anthony Taylor opted for yellow.
The hosts continued to push and got their reward when Palmer's brilliant reverse pass, the only standout moment of quality in the first half, released Sterling, who went to ground for Chelsea's penalty after slight contact from Issa Diop.
Palmer stepped up and sent Bernd Leno the wrong way to take his Premier League goal tally to nine this season and make it five successful penalties out of five following his move from Manchester City.
Chelsea started the second period strongly, with the excellent Palmer curling a shot narrowly wide, Sterling striking the outside of the post with a header and Broja failing to connect properly with a low Gusto cross as the hosts piled on the pressure.
Fulham provided a reminder of their attacking threat when Raul Jimenez forced an athletic, one-handed save from Petrovic and, up at the other end, Chelsea's attacks continued to come to nothing.
Conor Gallagher fired a shot against the upright and substitute Noni Madueke forced a save from Bernd Leno in stoppage time, but the closing stages were extremely nervy for the hosts as they struggled to manage the game and invited Fulham pressure.
The visitors won a succession of free-kicks in dangerous areas, with Chelsea repeatedly struggling to clear their lines, but Marco Silva's side, also beaten in the first leg of their Carabao Cup final against Liverpool in midweek, couldn't carve out clear chances.
Chelsea were therefore able to celebrate an important victory at the final whistle, the positive mood enhanced by the return of Ben Chilwell as a substitute following four months out.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
11' Enzo's shot stopped
15' Gallagher's shot over the bar
20' Broja's shot wide out
27' Petrovic makes good save
38' Yellow Card! Malo Gusto booked
49' Penalty Goal! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham (Cole Palmer)
50' Palmer's long shot wide out
50' Stering's header hits the bar
68' Colwill's long shot over the bar
73' Jimenez's shot stopped
83' Gallagher hits the bar
Line-ups
Chelsea XI: Thiago Silva, Sterling, Axel Disasi, Conor Gallagher, Djordje Petrovic, Cole Palmer, Armando Broja, Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, Levi Colwill, Malo Gusto
Subs: Marcus Bettinelli, Chilwell, Benoît Badiashile, Noni Madueke, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Lucas Bergström, Carney Chukwuemeka, Alfie Gilchrist, Deivid Washington
Fulham XI: Willian, Tom Cairney, Leno, Jimenez, Tete, Pereira, João Palhinha, Harry Wilson, T.Adarabioyo, Diop, Antonee Robinson
Subs: Tim Ream, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Lukic, Castagne, Harrison Reed, Marek Rodak, Carlos Vinícius, Tyrese Francois, Rodrigo Muniz