Blues make it Mount at last
Mason Mount was the late hero as Chelsea struggled to edge past the 10 men of Fulham.
The home side had Antonee Robinson sent off late in the first half for an out-of-control lunge on Cesar Azpilicueta.
But Frank Lampard’s side looked set to end up frustrated until the England midfielder made the breakthrough with 12 minutes remaining.
Mount said: “It was a tough game. We had to wait until late in second half to get the goal, we had to dig deep as a team.
“We stayed patient, got better and better and nicked the goal.”
Chelsea boss Lampard added: “It feels good to get a win. It’s not been easy with the league form recently and you have to break the duck.
“Fulham made it difficult. We started the game well and controlled a lot of the ball.
“It’s not easy against 10 men but we kept going and got what we deserved.”
In the first half Cottagers keeper Alphonse Areola made two saves and Mount rattled the bar for Chelsea in a frantic three-minute spell but Fulham missed the best chance of the
first period when Ivan Cavaleiro scuffed his shot wide.
Christian Pulisic couldn’t quite reach a cross to net from close range and it looked as if the goal was never going to come before Mount finally converted with a well-hit low finish.
Sub Timo Werner blew a late chance to end his Premier League goal drought going back to November 7 as the German striker slotted wide at the end of a Chelsea counter-attack.
Fulham boss Scott Parker said: “In the second half you’re playing the clock a bit. We tried to hold on but it wasn’t to be.
“But I have nothing but admiration for my team – they were superb to a man.”