Teams
Cole Palmer's penalty secured a 1-0 victory for Chelsea against local rivals Fulham as Mauricio Pochettino's side won a third consecutive Premier League game for the first time all season.

Palmer dispatched his fifth spot kick of the campaign with trademark composure after Issa Diop was adjudged to have brought down Raheem Sterling on the stroke of half-time at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea had the better of the game after the 21-year-old's opener but produced more missed chances following their Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to Middlesbrough on Tuesday, ensuring the game hung in the balance right until the end.

The Blues held on, though, thanks in part to some smart saves by goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, the narrow victory providing a much-needed boost for the home fans and moving Pochettino's side up to eighth in the Premier League table while Fulham remain 13th.

It was a frustrating afternoon for the visitors, with Marco Silva later bemoaning a "clear mistake from the VAR" after the officials decided not to upgrade a Malo Gusto yellow card to a red following a studs-up challenge on Willian in the first half.

Player ratings

Chelsea: Petrovic (8), Gusto (6), Disasi (7), Silva (7), Colwill (7), Caicedo (7), Fernandez (7), Gallagher (7), Sterling (7), Palmer (8), Broja (6).

Subs: Madueke (7), Chilwell (6), Chukwuemeka (n/a), Gilchrist (n/a).

Fulham: Leno (7), Tete (6), Tosin (7), Diop (6), Robinson (7), Palhinha (7), Cairney (7), Willian (6), Wilson (6), Pereira (6), Jimenez (6).

Subs: Castagne (6), De Cordova-Reid (6), Muniz (6), Lukic (6).

Player of the match: Cole Palmer

How Chelsea edged to victory

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 their close shave when right-back 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 and VAR did not intervene.

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 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 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.

Chelsea's improving form - Opta stats

-  Over half of Chelsea's Premier League wins this season have come since the start of December (five out of nine), with only Liverpool (17) picking up more points in the competition in that time than the Blues (15).

-  Chelsea remain unbeaten at home against Fulham in the Premier League (P17 W11 D6). Only Arsenal have hosted a specific opponent more often at home in the competition without ever losing (P24 W16 D8 vs Southampton).

-  Cole Palmer is just the third different Chelsea player to score at least five penalties in a single Premier League season after Frank Lampard (five in 2012/13 and 10 in 2009/10) and Jorginho (6 in 2021/22 and 7 in 2020/21).

-  Raheem Sterling has won three penalties in the Premier League for Chelsea this season, more than any other player. His 26 in the competition overall is at least three more than anyone else.

-  Since his first Premier League season in 2018/19, Fulham's Issa Diop has conceded seven penalties, only Wilfred Ndidi (eight) has conceded more during that time.

What's next?

Chelsea contest an EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Middlesbrough next, which takes place on January 23, live on Sky Sports Football, kick-off 8pm.

Following that, an FA Cup fourth-round meeting with Aston Villa awaits on January 26, before returning to Premier League duty on January 31 against Liverpool, kick-off 8.15pm.

Fulham are also busy with cup commitments. They play the second leg of their respective EFL Cup semi-final against Liverpool on January 24, live on Sky Sports Football, kick-off 8pm.

Newcastle are the next visitors to Craven Cottage in the FA Cup on January 27.

Click Here for Official Teamsheet

Teams

Chelsea Petrovic; Gusto (Gilchrist, 90+2), Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez, Gallagher; Sterling (Chilwell, 77), Broja (Madueke, 66), Palmer (Chukwuemeka, 90+2)
Subs Not Used Bettinelli, Bergstrom, Badiashile, Mudkryk, Deivid Washington
Booked Gusto, Fernandez, Caicedo, Gallagher
Goals Palmer 45+4 (pen)

Fulham Leno; Tete (Castagne, 64), Adarabiayo, Diop, Robinson; Palhinha (Lukic, 82), Cairney; Wilson (De Cordova-Reid, 64), Pereira (Muinz, 82), Willian; Jimenez
Subs Not Used Radak, Reed, Ream, Vinicius, Francis
Booked Wilson
Goals

Attendance 39,643

Referee Anthony Taylor

VAR Michael Salisbury