6) Fulham 0 - 2 Chelsea Fc

23RD September 2006 Chelsea went top of the League, perhaps temporarily, thanks to a two goal performance from Frank Lampard who was wearing the captain's armband in the absence of John Terry. Terry came off from training yesterday, Friday, with a very stiff back. When he walked in front of the cheering Chelsea fans to the dug-out on the far side of the pitch from the training rooms, his stride was still badly impaired. Khalid Boulahrouz, believe it or not, was unwell and unable to take his place. So Paulo Ferreira was shifted across to centre-back from the right where he finished against Liverpool, and Geremi was introduced. With Robben available and Ballack suspended, Mourinho reverted to a 4-3-3 shape with Robben holding the left and Drogba and Shevchenko switching between the centre and the right. Chelsea got in some good early positions and looked sharp and comfortable until in the 12th minute Essien gave away possession with Geremi overlapping and Routledge was able to get away and cross. Ferreira blocked, but Routledge had a free second go and this time shot. Cech's diving punch made the save look easier than it was. With Fulham crowding midfield they tended to build their attacks slower then Chelsea, but both teams were finding time on the ball, and this despite a vibrant derby atmosphere. Fulham won a couple of corners which Drogba defended well, while at the other end Robben switched to the right, got round Queudrue and crossed just over the centreforward. It was a good game. It nearly exploded in the 25th minute. Good defending by Carvalho and use of the ball by Ferreira finished with Shevchenko running through the centre-circle and finding Robben who after one touch volleyed an unbelievable 30 yarder which crashed against Niemi's bar with the goalkeeper not moving. Two minutes later Essien, on his 50th appearance for Chelsea, tried his luck with a leftfooter from over 20 yards which diving Niemi had to scramble to save. One minute later Cole won a free-kick wide of the area which Lampard dummied to shoot but laid aside to Geremi whose 20 yard shot whistled just outside Niemi's post with the goalkeeper desperately diving. It was a good period for the Blues. Half-time arrived with Jose Mourinho airing his frustration at referee Halsey. The second-half started with Cole missing a bouncing header and Volz getting Rosenior away, but Lampard's outstanding covering run finished with him blocking the shot for a corner. Cech raced off his line to congratulate his stand-in captain. Eight minutes into the second period the ball broke off Lampard for Brown to race through on goal and Cech's brave, aggressive save at his feet was crucial and resulted in the need for treatment. Fulham's fans were screaming their team on, and were furious a minute later when Volz was booked for blocking Cole. But Fulham came back and Rosenior's cross forced a corner out of Geremi. Mourinho decided to make a change to his left-hand side, sending on Kalou for Robben. Kalou operated from the right with the two strikers now sharing the left with the centre.

Carvalho was booked for a sliding challenge on John who required treatment. It was Chelsea's first foul of the second-half. Four minutes past the hour the deadlock looked to be broken. With Chelsea fans at the Putney End chanting: "Attack, attack, attack!", Shevchenko ran on to a deflected Kalou shot having given him the ball and forced a good diving parry from Niemi. Drogba, following up, could only hit the ball into the ground but it bounced up against the bar and away. Kalou was now on the left and Chelsea had found a balance again. And it was Kalou who after 71 minutes won a penalty. Previously he'd cut inside Rosenior and forced a save. Now he tricked his way outside him and as the full-back fell he fisted the ball away from the wide man's feet. Lampard took a big breath and blasted the spot kick high into the net with Niemi nowhere near it. It was his third goal of the season. Drogba, before the kick, had raced to Kalou, put an arm round him and pointed the Chelsea fans to acknowledging the new boy's role. This was easily the most confident performance from the youngster. With 15 minutes left both teams switched to 4-4-2. Mikel replaced Shevchenko and went to the tip of the midfield diamond. Helguson and McBride replaced Bocanegra and John giving them power up front for the first time against Chelsea's unfamiliar back line. It was Chelsea and Lampard who benefited. Lampard ran forward as Essien looked to play a one-two with the intelligent Drogba and drove a 20 yarder low beyond Niemi into the corner before running to his fans who celebrated with their captain for the day. Chelsea were now completely in charge. Essien was tripped by Queudrue who was booked. In stoppage time Bridge replaced Lampard who gave the armband to Drogba. Bridge went to the left and Kalou to the right and 4-3-3 was restored. Chelsea have now won at Blackburn and Fulham where defeats were suffered last season, and beaten Charlton at Stamford Bridge who forced a draw last season, Fulham (4-5-1) Niemi; Rosenior, Knight (c), Pearce, Queudrue; Volz, Diop, Brown, Bocanegra (Helguson 76), Routledge; John (McBride 76). Booked Volz (54), Queudrue (82). Chelsea (4-3-3) Cech; Geremi, Ferreira, Carvalho, A Cole; Essien, Makelele, Lampard (c) (Bridge 90); Drogba, Shevchenko (Mikel 76), Robben (Kalou 56). Scorers Lampard (pen) (72), (79). Booked Carvalho (59).