View From My Front Screen – Chelsea v Fulham
Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, James, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella, Fernandez, Gallagher, Ziyech, Mount, Mudryk, Havertz.
Subs: Bettinelli, Chalobah, Sterling, Chilwell, Koulibaly, David Datro Fofana, Azpilicueta, Chukwuemeka, Madueke.
Record signing Enzo Fernandez starts and Mykhailo Mudryk also makes his first start. Reece James make his comeback after recovering from injury.
Aleksandar Mitrovic returns to the Fulham starting line-up. His inclusion is the only change for the visitors. New signings Sasa Lukic and Cedric Soares are watching from the stands.
Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Diop, Ream, Antonee Robinson, Reed, Joao Palhinha, Reid, Andreas Pereira, Willian, Mitrovic.
Subs: Rodak, Kurzawa, Adarabioyo, Duffy, Wilson, Cairney, Solomon, James, Vinicius.
Kick off
3 mins a quick interchange of passes looks promising for the Blues but the final pass is overhit.
5 mins and Robertson has a quick break through the Chelsea back line, but his cross is cut out and was offside as well.
Fulham fans making all the noise.
10 mins So far it seems our passing has been quicker and more forward looking. Fulham seem to be quicker and harder into the tackle.
18 mins a bit of pinball in the area but Fulham clear the ball.
When we attack, we now seem to have more options in the box.
20 mins a really tight offside call after a good ball over the top from Thiago Silva.
21 mins and a sliding tackle on Mount brings a yellow card for Palinha
23 mins and a 1st corner for the Blues, Ziyech takes it but its cleared.
24 mins and a good break by Fulham brings a save for a corner from Kepa
26mins Reed lucky not to be booked for taking out Mount
30 mins some tasty tackles going in Mitrovic catching Gallaghers ankle and then someone is spoken to by Attwell
31 mins Fernandez passes to Mount who crosses but Ream gets a little touch and Havertz skies it.
33 mins and another Havertz chance, but it goes agonizingly wide
44 mins a great touch from Ziyech frees Havertz who loops a ball over Leno, but it hits the post and is cleared.
A fairly even first half, but Fulham have the only strike on target.
Chelsea bring on former PSV winger Noni Madueke for Mykhailo Mudryk.
46 mins and William has a chance but its saved
50 mins and Pereira gets a yellow for a studs up tackle on Cucurella VAR has a look but no red, it did look a bit like the one that Felix got sent off for in the reverse fixture
A Gallagher cross finds James who crosses for Madueke but its cut out by Tete for a corner
54 Mins Gallaghers corner doesn’t clear the first man
Fulham fans still making all the noise
58 mins and Sterling and Dave are stripped off
Fulham break through by William but Cucurella steps in and clears
59 Mins James is replaced by Dave Ziyech is replaced by Sterling
61 Madueke sends a ball across to Sterling, but it’s cut out by Tete
63 Gallagher is booked for a tackle on Pereira
65 another corner for Gallagher, Silva heads it into the air and its an easy catch for Leno
66 Decrdova-Reid is then booked for trying to pull Sterlings arm off
70 mins Mitrovic has a dig from almost half way line but Kepa catches it
71 Enzo has a long range strike that goes just wide
72 mins and another Chelsea corner is wasted
74 mins and a double change for Fulham, D-Reid comes off replaced by Soloman. William is also replaced by Wilson
Chelsea also make a change as Mount is replaced by DD Fofana for his debut
78 minutes Gallagher has a dig and it goes just outside of the post with Leno rooted to the spot
79 DD Fofana catches Leno in no mans land and loses Diop and he’s through on goal but Ream slides in to clear the ball as its going in.
The corner is once again wasted
83 mins Cucurella is replaced by Chillwell returning from injury
84 mins Fulham Manager Silva is booked for being in the ear of the officials
90 mins Mitrovic is replaced by Vinicius, and Reed is replaced by Cairney
A Fulham free-kick is given after Havertz trips Reed it is put in the mixer but cleared by Silva and the follow up by Palhinha is wide
5 added minutes.
93 Wilson is booked for bringing down Sterling
Fulham replace Pereira with Kurzawa
94 mins and another corner this time from Chillwell its cleared then Sterling has a curling shot plucked out the air by Leno
The Final whistle blows
Motm match is the very well organized Fulham Defence and midfield, with William and Tete both playing well
Fulham take their 1st point from the bridge in 10 years and Chelsea still a work in progress, but showing some improvement, but still need a finisher, and as I keep repeating some more practice at corners.
KTBFH
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