Mount has last word to ease Blues’ pressure
IN THE minutes before this West London derby, the DJ at a deserted Craven Cottage did everything he could to create a spark. His playlist, played at deafening volume, shuddered the foundations of this old ground and, even after a football match broke out, it took 78 minutes for Chelsea to dial down some of the noise — around their form and the future of their manager. The reckless red card for Fulham full-back Antonee Robinson, shortly before the break, unlocked the door but Chelsea struggled to bang it down until Mason Mount’s low finish. Though the visitors toiled for long periods, the victory was no less than Mount’s performance deserved — the midfielder created seven chances. But for all his obvious quality, this was Mount’s first league goal since September. ‘By the time he’s 23, 24 and maturing into the prime of his career, I’d like to think that Mason Mount will be a player of the highest level in all senses, who has at least 10 goals — maybe 15 or so — in him,’ said Lampard. FULHAM (5-4-1): Areola 5.5; Tete 6, Aina 6.5 (Bryan 83min), Andersen 6.5, Adarabioyo 6.5, Robinson 4; De Cordova-Reid 5.5 (Kamara 83), Reed 6, Anguissa 6, Lookman 6.5; Cavaleiro 5 (Onomah 79). Subs not used: Hector, Odoi, Kebano, Rodak, Ream. Booked: Lookman, De Cordova-Reid. Sent off: Robinson. Manager: Scott Parker 6.5. CHELSEA (4-3-3): Mendy 6; Azpilicueta 6, Silva 6.5, Rudiger 6.5, Chilwell 6.5; Kovacic 6, Jorginho 6 (Abraham 65, 6), MOUNT 8; Ziyech 7 (Hudson-Odoi 75, 7), Giroud 6.5 (Werner 75, 5.5), Pulisic 6.5. Subs not used: Arrizabalaga, Zouma, Gilmour, James, Havertz, Emerson. Scorer: Mount 78. Booked: Azpilicueta, Silva, Ziyech. Manager: Frank Lampard 6.5. Referee: Peter Bankes 6.5.