Starting Line Ups

Chelsea

Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, Claude Makelele, Andriy Shevchenko, Steve Sidwell, Joe Cole, Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Tal Ben Haim, John Terry (C), Juliano Belletti

Subs: Carlo Cudicini (GK), Claudio Pizarro, Florent Malouda, Paulo Ferriera, Alex

Fulham

Kasey Keller, Carlos Bocanegra (C), Paul Konchesky, Seol Ki-Hyeon, Alexey Smertin, David Healy, Steven Davis, Aaron Hughes, Clint Dempsey, Simon Davies, Chris Baird

Subs: Antti Niemi (GK), Diomansy Kamara, Shefki Kuqi, Hameur Bouazza, Danny Murphy

First Half Action

Fulham made a bright start to Saturday's West London derby at Stamford Bridge and looked comfortable in the opening exchanges. However it was Andriy Shevchenko who fired in the first shot on goal after two minutes. The speculative shot from outside the area flew high over Keller’s bar. 

3 min A Fulham counter attack down the right caused panic in Chelsea's area and as the ball flew across goal Makelele almost headed into his own net. The midfielder conceded the corner and Terry required treatment following an aerial dual with Clint Dempsey in the area.

7 min The home side's most potent attacking force in the first period was Kalou. Early on the striker drifted down the left flank, turned Baird and fired over the bar. It was a warning sign but Fulham's defence held firm and rarely looked troubled. Two free-kicks were conceded in the opening 15 minutes but both set pieces were wasted by Schevchenko.

Smertin was a revelation in midfield, constantly snapping at the heels, winning possession and providing simple yet effective distribution. Fulham stood toe-to-toe with the home side and looked to counter down the flanks. Simon Davies proved the most effective down the right channel with some surging runs during the first half.

13 min Dempsey almost broke the deadlock with a far post header from Healy’s cross from the left flank. The American's header lacked the power and pace to seriously test Cech but it was another promising counter attack from Fulham.

18 min Dempsey had the ball in the back of the net but not before the linesman's flag was raised for offside. Another surging counter attack from Davies saw a neat one-two with Healy before the ball was sent through Chelsea's back line. Dempsey broke through for the one-on-one but was clearly offside.

26 min Joe Cole fired in a shot from 25 yards which saw Keller make an impressive save. As the half hour mark approached Chelsea enjoyed their best spell of the game. However the home side's approach play lacked a cutting edge and Fulham were rarely tested at the back.

32 min Chelsea almost took the lead twice in a minute through Schevchenko and Drogba. First Kalou drifted down the left flank, turned Baird, and fired in a cross to the near post. Schevchenko instinctively touched the ball towards goal but from three yards turned the ball the wrong side of Keller's post. Seconds later, Drogba lunged for the ball at the far post but failed to connect.

Drogba claimed a penalty and was booked after remonstrating with Referee Martin Atkinson.

As half time approached both sides looked to take the advantage but both sides lacked a cutting edge. John Terry came close with a far post header before the break and Baird made a superb tackle on Drogba before Atkinson blew his whistle for half-time.

Second Half Action

45 min Avram Grant made one forced substitution before the start of the second half. Alex replaced John Terry who was forced to retire from the game with suspected fractured cheekbone.

Chelsea flew out the blocks and Drogba was at the heart of Chelsea's attacking play, turning creator with a fine through ball to Joe Cole who sent in a testing cross from the right flank. Moments later Hughes pulled of an outstanding sliding tackle as the striker appeared to have breached the Whites back line.

53 min Grant didn't wait long to make his second change of the game. Andriy Schevchenko, whose chances were few and far between, made way for Claudio Pizarro. A minute later Fulham almost found a way through. Dempsey, with his back to goal, muscled his way round his marker and almost snatched the ball from Cech.

58 min A rasping shot from 25 yards tested Keller but the keeper's positional sense gave him the advantage to make a comfortable save.

59 min Seol beat three Chelsea players in the middle of the park before teeing up Smertin on the right hand side of the area. Smertin fired in a right footed effort but the shot lacked the power to test Cech who collected with ease. Moments later Chelsea countered and Kalou sent his header at the far post inches wide.

The game was opening up with Fulham looking to catch Chelsea on the counter attack. However the home side’s pressure was testing the Whites at the back, with a succession of corners.

65 min Lawrie Sanchez revised his attack just past the hour mark, replacing David Healy with Dio Kamara. The Northern Ireland international received a standing ovation from the travelling Fulham fans.

68 min Makelele sent in a free kick from the left flank and Kalou, unmarked on the far post headed wide. Seconds later Drogba sent Cole through on goal and the midfielder sent his shot wide of Keller’s far post.

72 min Fulham’s second substitution of the game saw Seol make way for Bouazza. Seconds later Kamara linked up with Dempsey superbly, sending the American through on goal with a perfectly weighted pass. Dempsey just failed to reach the ball but Fulham's counter attacking football was impressive in the final 20 minutes of the game.

73 min Drogba was sent off by Referee Atkinson for raising his boot dangerously high on Baird as the defender challenged for the header. After being booked in the first period for remonstrating with Referee Atkinson, Chelsea's most potent attacking force was sent for an early bath.

76 min Avram revised his line-up, replacing Ashley Cole with Florent Malouda. Bouazza looked lively following his introduction and Sanchez' subs turned the pressure on the home side. 

80 min Kamara won the ball from Makelele on the half way line and burst forward. Bouazza raced down the left flank and met Kamara's pass to the far post. The winger smashed his effort wide, wasting a glorious chance.

81 min Davis went through Pizarro in front of the dug out and Atkinson raised a yellow. The game was set for a fascinating finale.

Sanchez replaced the outstanding Smertin with Murphy for the final period of the game which saw Fulham create two chances to kill the game.

85 min Five minutes from time Konchesky almost wrapped the game up for the Whites. After a neat one-two down the left flank, Konchesly continued his run and collected the return pass in the area. Konch was through and with only Cech to beat hit a left footed shot which clipped the keeper's boot and went wide of goal. 

90 min In the final minute Kamara collected the ball on the edge of Chelsea's area, turned his marker, muscled his way to the right hand side of the box and fired in a cross come shot. Dempsey, sensing the opportunity raced in at the far post and was inches from sending the ball home. Dempsey was inches away from ending Chelsea's unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge.

After 3 minutes added time the final whistle blew and Fulham will consider themselves desperately unlucky not to have snatached all three points at the death.

 

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