Fulham 1-2 Chelsea
"Could this be the year to achieve the double over our neighbours?" was how I closed last week's blog. When I came through the turnstiles on Sunday I found my fellow supporters equally cagey about the likely outcome of the local derby.
"It can't be another Palace," said one, thinking back to the Whites' tame submission in the FA Cup quarter final. Once again I copped out, uttering a feeble, "I hope not". The Whites then had squandered their best recent chance of getting to Wembley.
Now they faced a struggling Chelsea side which had yet to win a PL away match in 2025. It seemed too easy.
After the tawdry volcanoes had been pulled off the pitch the real business began. Fulham showed more determination than against Palace but quality was lacking. Though Enzo Maresca must envy Marco Silva's rapport with the fans both coaches wll have shuddered through much of Sunday's offering.
The game did start promisingly with Ryan Sessegnon bursting into the penalty area. As he took a return pass he looked offside but play continued and in due course Andreas Pereira slipped the ball into the net. Finally the assistant referee raised his flag. All that effort for nothing – made worse by VAR having to check the new semi-automatic process, confirming what had been obvious from the stands.
With the Blues attack misfiring, Sessegnon cheekily dispossessed Rees James and led another charge, which ended with a gleeful Alex Iwobi converting his centre. We shared the joy but wondered whether the team could hold onto that lead for another seventy minutes. It made the rest of the first half more exciting despite the widespread sloppy passing.
Chelsea become dominant
Maresca proved more proactive than Silva during the interval, promoting Jadon Sancho and Malo Gusto, after which the visitors became dominant though still profligate in front of goal. Nicholas Jackson had a frustrating afternoon and made way for 19-year-old Tyrique George in the 78th minute.
Perhaps still smarting from last week's administrative error, Silva had made only one substitution until an injury to Sessegnon left him no choice. At least it was cheering to see Harry Wilson return to action. Timothy Castagne replaced Kenny Tete.
George's arrival finally broke the resolve of the flagging defence. Timothee Robinson failed to intercept a loose ball, allowing the newcomer to score his first league goal. Silva gambled on the attacking powers of Adama Traore and Carlos Vinicius disrupting the invigorated visitors – and maybe grabbing a last-minute winner. Fate decided otherwise.
Three minutes into stoppage time Enzo Fernandez centred and on the turn Paulo Neto thumped the ball beyond Leno's reach. The Blues were in ecstasy and their fans forgot about Frank Lampard and taunted their hosts singing: "How bad must you be? We're winning away".
In truth Fulham have not performed badly apart from the Cup match; they just keep coming second best. The lack of a regular goal-scorer is one glaring problem. Rodrigo Muniz cannot be sure of a starting place but when he is unavailable (as last Sunday) Silva is left with no options.
On a day when the Whites could have made history the Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez scarcely had a shot to save.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
