This felt like a derby only in terms of its geography. Just 1.5 miles separate these two clubs and even after this result the only difference in the Premier League table is in the goal difference column. Nevertheless, in terms of what we saw on the field, Chelsea were superior by a distance.
It is not often we have said that about Chelsea this season, or indeed at all in recent times. We certainly could not say that after games against Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and West Ham, all of which had previously been lost this campaign.
But here, belatedly but also just in time to stop a growing feeling of crisis, Mauricio Pochettino’s team resembled a decent side once again. Not spectacular or flamboyant. And not always expansive. But purposeful, superior and more than competent. On this occasion and in these trying Chelsea times, it was enough.
Chelsea dominated the play and the good chances. Indeed Fulham only had one, substitute Sasa Lukic denied by Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal with ten minutes left. Cole Palmer, signed recently from Manchester City, was the game’s best player and its best passer. Some capture the 21-year-old may yet transpire to be for Chelsea.
But it was the identity of the two goal scorers that may yet prove most significant of all. The first, in the 19th minute, was the Ukrainian Mykhailo Mudryk. Signed for £85m last January, Mudryk has been less disappointing and more invisible in the months that have followed. This was his very first goal.
Mykhailo Mudryk celebrates after scoring his first competitive goal for Chelsea in the first half of Monday’s match
Mudryk is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring the goal that he has been waiting for since his big money move
Armando Broja (3rd left) celebrates with his team-mates after scoring on his first start for the club in nearly a year
Broja is congratulated by manager Mauricio Pochettino following the referee’s full-time whistle at Craven Cottage
Then, 82 seconds later and after a mistake by Fulham captain Tim Ream, the English-born Albanian Armando Broja scored his team’s second. Broja’s problems have not been of form but of fitness. The 22-year-old – born in Slough to Albanian parents – has struggled with a knee injury and this was only his first goal in a year and indeed only his first start since last November. The relief and joy on his face was palpable.
As for Fulham, they were never really at it. They can be better than this. Marco Silva’s team lack a focal point now that Aleksandar Mitrovic is playing in Saudi Arabia but, as worrying as that is, it was not the only thing wrong here. They were not competitive enough early on – conceding a chance to Chelsea in the very first minute – and by the time they improved they were a goal down.
Chelsea’s problems had run deep this season, as we know. Not enough goals – they had not scored for 285 minutes in the league prior to this game – had bled quickly into not enough points. It’s a potentially damaging combination. Here, they had the returning Broja to look to and he immediately gave them a presence at the top of their formation.
Played clear on goal in the opening moments, Broja actually should have scored. He didn’t panic. But nor did he score. Taking the ball round Fulham goalkeeper Bern Leno, he then shot carelessly high and wide. He looked mortified and no wonder.
Mudryk controlled the ball with his chest before producing a cool finish to open the scoring in the Premier League clash
The Fulham defenders watch on as Mudryk’s finish nestles in the net midway through the first half in Fulham
A miss totally in keeping with Chelsea’s season, for once it did not set the tone and Pochettino’s players – starting without Raheem Sterling who had been unwell – pressed Fulham back until they eventually broke through
The first goal was lovely, Levi Colwill’s cross from the left was expertly fashioned and good enough to arc over the head of Fulham defender Issa Diop and on to Mudryk’s chest. Diop probably should have done better. He seemed to jump too early. But when the ball dropped to Mudryk he controlled it beautifully and waited for it to fall to ground before stroking it first time under the advancing goalkeeper on the half volley.
It was a goal of lovely simplicity and we hope it sparks something deep within Mudryk, a player who has so often looked simply miserable since his arrival in London in the New Year.
The second Chelsea goal, meanwhile, was calamitous from Fulham’s point of view. Stretching to intercept Ream’s pass out from the back, Palmer collected possession, played Broja through and watched as Ream’s attempted tackle only struck his opponent and rebounded in to the goal.
Broja doubled the lead with a bit of luck just one minute later as Chelsea finally found some goalscoring form
both sets of players watch on as the ball comes off Broja and makes its way past Fulham goalkeeper Bern Leno
For Fulham it felt like a hammer goal. Blown away in 82 seconds. For Chelsea it felt like the start of their season and for Palmer the beginning of what may become quite some career at Stamford Bridge.
Bought for £40m from their rivals in Manchester, his was one of the most eyebrow raising transfers of the summer window. City are piled high with great footballers. The champions will doubtless cope without this one. For Chelsea, though, he may well be a transformative signing.
The London club has lost so much talent recently that it is heartening to see a player so exciting – and indeed so English – coming the other way. On this evidence Palmer lacks neither ability or confidence. He moves the ball beautifully, has a change of pace and can play off either foot. He also looks as though he wants to score goals which not all modern midfielders do.
Here there were to be no more goals for Chelsea and indeed Mudryk didn’t appear for the second half, presumably injured. There was never any sense Chelsea would lose their control, though.
Fulham’s players look dejected during their convincing defeat to Chelsea in Monday’s Premier League encounter
Fulham enjoyed much more possession in the second half. Substitute Carlos Vinicius gave them a presence even though he seemed slightly lucky to stay on after clumping Thiago Silva round the back of the head.
And while Sanchez needed to produce that save at the end from Lukic, Chelsea had by then struck a post through Mudryk’s replacement Ian Maatsen. Enzo Fernandez may have rammed home the rebound only for Leno to advance and block well.
This was not easy for Chelsea but it was comfortable and that may well have surprised them. Fulham’s supporters stayed behind at the end to clap their team off. They will have better days here.
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