Player ratings as Cole Palmer penalty settles west London derby

FROM STAMFORD BRIDGE – Chelsea just about did enough to see off neighbours Fulham in a nervy west London derby on Saturday.

A first-half penalty from Cole Palmer was all that separated the two sides on a day where neither really got going in attack.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men have climbed to eighth in the Premier League table above Manchester United and Newcastle United, who play later this weekend, while Marco Silva’s charges remain 13th.

How the game unfolded

The first real sight of goal came on the 15-minute mark when Conor Gallagher fired over when surrounded by five Fulham bodies on the edge of the penalty area.

Chelsea went closer soon after as Enzo Fernandez’s pinpoint cross from the left flank was met by Armando Broja, but his header sailed wide of the near post.

Fulham went nearly broke the deadlock when Antonee Robinson’s low cross travelled all the way through the Chelsea six-yard box and found Harry Wilson, whose first-time strike was denied by the legs of Djordje Petrovic.

The visitors were outraged that Malo Gusto was not shown a red card for a challenge high on Willian’s ankle before the half-time break, with VAR agreeing with referee Anthony Taylor’s on-field decision of only booking the right-back.

In first-half stoppage time, Chelsea were awarded a penalty when Raheem Sterling was tripped by Issa Diop. Palmer, whose clever pass found Sterling in the first place, stepped up and sent Bernd Leno the wrong way to give the hosts the lead.

Just after the break, Sterling went close to adding a second when he met a cross from Fernandez, but his glanced attempt ricocheted off the post.

A similar chance saw Tosin Adarabioyo get behind a tame strike from Broja on the end of a Gusto delivery as Chelsea continued to push for another goal to give them breathing space.

Fulham finally got going in the second half when Robinson’s ball forward found Andreas Pereira, and his cutback reached Raul Jimenez, but his tame shot was palmed aside by Petrovic.

Chelsea struck the post again late in the day when Conor Gallagher’s outside-of-the-boot shot flew round several Fulham defenders.

The hosts withstood a barrage of stoppage-time pressure to eek out a much-needed victory.

GK: Djordje Petrovic – 6/10 – Didn’t have too much to do but dealt with everything that was thrown his way. Beginning to make a claim for a starting spot when Robert Sanchez returns to fitness.

RB: Malo Gusto – 6/10 – A tad fortunate not to have…