Chelsea 2 Fulham 0
John Obi Mikel scored his first Premier League goal for Chelsea to cap a victory that took them back to the top of the Premier League.
Second-half strikes from Oscar and Mikel meant the Blues registered a first win in five matches, while struggling Fulham remain winless since the opening day of the season.
Oscar pounced on a loose ball on 52 minutes after keeper David Stockdale fumbled, before Mikel volleyed home the second five minutes from time.
Fulham should have taken an early lead when Darren Bent was put through one-on-one with Petr Cech but shot straight at the keeper’s legs.
Other than that, Chelsea were comfortable throughout.
Both Juan Mata and David Luiz were omitted from the squad by boss Jose Mourinho, having featured in the shock home defeat against Basel in the Champions League in midweek.
And the Blues were just as wasteful in front of goal in the first half as they were on Wednesday, with Samuel Eto’o sending a deflected effort into the side netting and Eden Hazard missing the target twice.
But the exciting Oscar couldn’t miss from six yards when Stockdale failed to hold Andre Shurrle’s strike and then parried the subsequent effort from Eto’o into the Brazilian’s path.
Mikel then scored his first goal in 185 league appearances when he volleyed home following John Terry’s knock-down.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1):Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Cole; Mikel, Ramires; Hazard (De Bruyne 84), Schurrle (Lampard 80), Oscar; Eto’o (Torres 64).
Subs not used: Schwarzer, Essien, Willian, Azpilicueta
Fulham (4-2-3-1):Stockdale; Riether, Hangeland, Amorebieta, Richardson; Sidwell, Parker; Duff (Taarabt 64), Kasami (Rodallega 82), Kacaniklic (Mesca 72); Bent.
Subs not used: Etheridge, Senderos, Karagounis, Zverotic
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This post was last modified on 21/09/2013