Premier League - Chelsea dismiss Fulham

Eurosport - Sun, 03 May 04:43:00 2009

Nicolas Anelka scored in the first minute as Chelsea beat Fulham 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League's West London derby.

2008-2009 Chelsea Didier Drogba Nicolas Anelka - 0

The Frenchman's strike set the tone for a frantic opening as Erik Nevland equalised in the fourth minute, before Florent Malouda restored Chelsea's lead before 10 minutes were up.

Thereafter the home side seized control with an impressive display and Didier Drogba made the game safe with a clinical 53rd-minute effort.

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink had been expected to rest several players for this game, sandwiched between the two legs of a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.

Yet the Dutchman made just two changes from the side that lined up at the Camp Nou, with Ashley Cole and Nicolas Anelka replacing Branislav Ivanovic and Michael Ballack.

Hiddink may even field exactly the same team against the Catalans next week as Cole is available after serving a European suspension.

Chelsea spent much of the week fending off criticism about the supposedly ultra-defensive, physical approach that marked their goalless draw in Spain.

They could not have scripted a better response than the one that came within 60 seconds of the first whistle.

Anelka found Malouda on the left and continued his run into the box. Malouda found Drogba who touched the ball deftly through for Anelka and Chelsea's top scorer found the back of the net.

It was a wonderful, sweeping move and a far cry from their cautious, cynical image.

What followed minutes later was equally out of keeping with Chelsea's reputation, as some woeful defending let Fulham back into the game.

As Danny Murphy played a through-ball to Nevland, three-quarters of the Chelsea back line stepped up to play offside but Alex followed the pass, playing the Norwegian onside.

Nevland outpaced the Brazilian but still had a lot to do with his strike from the right corner of the box. He hit a decent shot but Cech should have saved easily, yet somehow the goalkeeper let the ball squirm underneath him into the far corner.

Chelsea were undeterred, and continued to pour forward. Frank Lampard clipped a shot just wide from the edge of the box before Malouda restored the lead within 10 minutes.

Drogba got beyond his man on the Chelsea right and played in a low cross for Malouda, who placed the ball adroitly into the right corner of the net.

Thereafter the pace dropped, unsurprisingly, although the home side continued to dominate.

Drogba nearly added a goal to his two assists when Lampard played him through, but the striker was flagged offside before he nutmegged Mark Schwarzer to find the net.

The home side dominated the second half with more slick football. Chelsea played at a high tempo and left Drogba on even after he spent several minutes on the ground after hurting his chest in a collision with John Paintsil.

The Ivorian remained at the heart of everything good from Chelsea, and added the third after a fine counter-attack.

Lampard dispossessed Paul Konchesky at the edge of the Chelsea box, released Anelka and the Frenchman in turn played it through for Drogba, who raced away from Aaron Hughes and slid the ball underneath the body of Schwarzer.

Drogba later fired wide from close range with Anelka the provider again, while Lampard was typically assured in midfield.

The result damages Fulham's chances of a seventh-place finish, particularly as it leaves them bereft of strikers.

Andy Johnson missed the game, and both Nevland and Bobby Zamora were forced off by knocks, leaving Diomansy Kamara as Roy Hodgson's only option.

This fine Chelsea performance may not help them win any domestic silverware, but a similar performance on Wednesday could leave Barcelona confounded.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 44 - 63 of 83

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  1. Seke Mutema comment 63
    What the hell are you talking­ about then you mean "we"
    You are not part of­ the set up and shall never be part of the world that­ such celebrity soccer players and their associated club­ managment staff live in, so cut the nonsense and get­ yourself a life you loser.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 3 May 5:00AM

  2. ...to be affecting so many people,i think The Blues are­ a big threat and obviously certain clubs and their­ numerous fans are feeling the pressure.Funny thing is­ from mediocre Everton fans,wannabe Barca managers,the­ lot seem to want the managers job at Chelsea.Whether u­ want to identify us with Romans billions or great feats­ like defeating the mighty cop,bottom line is we are a­ very good side with greater things yet to come.Its ok­ to be different,let Guus do things his way and you do­ what u have to.Scripted football would be very­ Booooooooooooooooring.Chelsea being in the way of­ someones 'glory' is what annoys most of u­ guys.If Barca go past us,everyone knows it they have CL­ in the bag.

    From Seke Mutema, on Sun 3 May 4:38AM

  3. Chelsea shall not win anything this season as there are­ others determined not to let them.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 3 May 2:56AM

  4. erm first of all Barcelona are probably the best in the­ world and they play the best football. before you start­ yabbing on how i love barcelona read the following­ statement. I AM A REAL MADRID SUPPORTER. they totally­ outclassed us in the match but atleast we had the ballz­ to attack aswell. fair enough we lost 6-2 but atleast­ we had our dignity of atleast trying unlike chelsea who­ just defended. and oh ye by the way, wether they win or­ lose on wednesday, barcelona will definatly outclass­ you!!

    From shubz, on Sun 3 May 1:44AM

  5. I am getting sick of those high scores with quick and­ soft goals from all over the place. Football in the EPL­ is turning into babyfoot.

    From Half A Brain, on Sat 2 May 11:39PM

  6. rkvohra70, it is not allways the result thats importan­ but how you get the result !!!evryboby wants to see­ atacking fotball not defending!Thats way nobady watch­ italian liga.what chealse played against barca was­ samefull for such big team like chealse.in london­ chealse will again play defensive game mark my­ words.and thats samefull.the resault is not important

    From matevjurman, on Sat 2 May 10:52PM

  7. To matevjurman,Barca must remember lst time what­ happened at Stam.Bridge,I still believe if barca were­ so good and best in world they should have scored­ against chelsea in 1st leg,if this was the only way to­ stop them ,every team would have STOPPED them by this­ way ??They would have never win lalifga,and they­ wouldn't have scored 100 goals in season??,It was­ only because they were playing a good team

    From Rakesh, on Sat 2 May 10:38PM

  8. rkvohra70, you will be very disapointed next week.im­ not anti chealsea but im anti bad fodball like chealsea­ is playing.aginst barca they playd cowardly, thats­ all.nobady liks that!!!

    From matevjurman, on Sat 2 May 10:23PM

  9. To ALL anti chealsea peoples,if Teams like everton or­ Villa or tottenham win PL or something big,are u goona­ Moan again ??that they havent got any large supporter­ in the world?In fact it will be slap on face of So­ called big clubs ,That they lost to Teams which are­ less supported ,why are moaning ?????

    From Rakesh, on Sat 2 May 10:19PM

  10. To ALL anti chealsea peoples,if Teams like everton or­ Villa or tottenham win PL or something big,are u goona­ Moan again ??that they havent got any large supporter­ in the world?In fact it will be slap on face of So­ called big clubs ,That they lost to Teams which are­ less supported ,why are moaning ?????

    From Rakesh, on Sat 2 May 10:19PM

  11. All the Anti Chealsea peoples are nothing more than ­ moaners or loosers,Doesnt make any sence how many­ proples support u or not,thing is its players who play­ on the pitch,If barcelona are supported by 20 millions­ peiples does that make them invincible?if they were­ good enough and supported by 20 million peoples and had­ scored 100 goals this season , why could't the­ score against chealsea?where was messi?henry?etto?what­ a shame ,its nothing but anti chealsea peoples are just­ Jealous,and thats true,

    From Rakesh, on Sat 2 May 10:15PM

  12. hiddik you the man , things are just own our way go­ blues' go hiddik

    From kelvin, on Sat 2 May 10:05PM

  13. chelsea have 40.000 fans barca 20 milion all over the­ world.i wonder why?mybe couse barca play fotball not­ like chelsea cowards!!!

    From matevjurman, on Sat 2 May 10:04PM

  14. Blue is the colour the pensioners will be feeling after­ Barca put them down. Do you have a plan to leave your­ penalty area this week, go on suprise us. Homebase are­ building a wall across the goal mouth. It's the­ only way to keep the ball out of your net..BARCA RULES.

    From Keith, on Sat 2 May 9:55PM

  15. liquirise head

    From Wendy, on Sat 2 May 9:51PM

  16. gogo.. chelsea

    From want_one87, on Sat 2 May 9:46PM

  17. Terrific first munite goal, fantastic morale booster,­ straight from the text books.Anelka, Anelka, O Anelka.­ Chealsea should apply same aproach and gusto next Wed­ and daze Baca and their supporters. Todays match calls­ for celebration.

    From marcel, on Sat 2 May 9:39PM

  18. guess u chelsea fans....didnt seee barcelona's­ match ...they won 6-2 over real madrid..away from­ home...so i dont think it will be easy to defeat barca

    From elijah, on Sat 2 May 9:29PM

  19. go chelsea player haters dont hate you know chelsea got­ game becelona here we come

    From susan, on Sat 2 May 9:13PM

  20. ha ha ha chelsea can wip her own @#$%

    From matevjurman, on Sat 2 May 9:02PM
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