Under-pressure Chelsea make the trip to Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon to face Fulham in yet another London Derby. After a Conference League loss to Legia Warsaw in midweek, Enzo Maresca’s Blues are under more pressure than ever.
Another loss for Chelsea would be a further hit to their Champions League hopes. Fulham took a shock win in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge, winning 1-2 on Boxing Day, and upset Liverpool at Craven Cottage earlier this month.
Fulham are in a European qualification push of their own. They currently sit ninth and could move into eigth with a win, which could be enough to earn Conference League qualification for next season. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Malik Ouzia at Craven Cottage.
73mins: In the away end, the Chelsea fans are singing Frank Lampard’s name en masse.
He is now in charge of Coventry City, and beat West Brom 2-0 at home on Friday to take a step closer to earning promotion back to the Premier League.
72mins: In rather worrying scenes, Fulham academy graduate Ryan Sessegnon is down injured. He has not had great luck with injuries in his career, and will not want to return to the physio’s room.
He will continue, but Lukic will be replaced by Tom Cairney.
69mins: A flash Chelsea short corner routine goes nowhere. The longer this half wears on, the more apparent it is that something is lacking for Chelsea.
What is that? Much harder to say.
While we grapple with that existential dilemma, Palmer drives to the byline and drills a left-footed shot into the Hammersmith End.
64mins: There is a clear disconnect somewhere in this Chelsea team. How many times today have we seen a low cross drilled across the ball, only for no blue shirt to bother attacking it?
One must look to Jackson, who does not yet seem to have shaken off the rust which came with his injury.
61mins: Sancho is the latest Chel to try his luck. His shot, once again, falls right to Leno.
There was surely been some improvement from the Blues, but they have admittedly been let down by their finishing. Leno is a talented keeper, but has not been overly challenged by any of the shots he has faced.
The theme continues as Cucurella picks up a loose ball and curls a shot towards the far corner, but his attempt is blocked.
Not sure if there’s been much of an improvement from Chelsea since half-time but there’s certainly been a drop-off from Fulham. They’ve been nothing like as assured in their use of the ball.
Nobody was more surprised than Pedro Neto when that chance went begging.
Action Images via Reuters
56mins: How on Earth has he done that!
Pedro Neto is handed a wonderful opportunity to shoot from the centre of the 18-yard box, but Leno pulls off a great save with his feet.
That really should have been 1-1, and Neto looks shocked to have missed.
53mins: It is end-to-end stuff here. Chelsea bomb forward through Jackson, but his cross is underhit and misplaced.
Chelsea recover possession and find Malo Gusto, who shoots from range with his weak foot to force a save from Leno, who catches the ball.
Great improvement from Chelsea so far this half.
50mins: Palmer goes down in the box under assistance from Joachim Andersen, but his appeals are halfhearted and no foul is given.
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