Cole Palmer fired Chelsea to a 1-0 win over west London rivals Fulham as the inconsistent Blues bounced back from their League Cup embarrassment at Middlesbrough.
Palmer converted a penalty late in the first half at Stamford Bridge to erase the bitter taste from Chelsea’s shock 1-0 loss to second-tier Middlesbrough in the semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
That League Cup calamity was just the latest disappointment in a troubled season for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Chelsea were hardly much more dynamic against Fulham, but Pochettino will take heart from the way they ground out a third successive Premier League victory.
After a 10-day winter break, the Blues will have a chance to overturn the League Cup deficit when they return to action against Middlesbrough in the second leg on January 23.
Chelsea are still a work in progress in Pochettino’s first season, with his decision to go with a largely youthful team inevitably producing highs and lows.
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Palmer stars as Chelsea defeat Fulham | 00:56
“The first half was really tough but we played really well in the second half. We deserved our victory, we were the better team,” Pochettino said.
“People suppose that Chelsea should be in a different position, but we are in a realistic position that we deserve because we weren’t clinical enough.
“We’ll get what we want. We are in a process to build and fighting to do our best.”
Fulham boss Marco Silva claimed Chelsea defender Malo Gusto should have been sent off for a first half foul on Willian that only earned a booking after a VAR check.
“We have to talk about the red card for Gusto, it was clear. In 10 of those moments, nine times it is a red card,” he said.
“It is hard to see how things aren’t consistent at the level that we’re at. This is the Premier league. In 10 of those moments, nine times it is a red card. It is a clear red card for me. VAR checked and this time they didn’t give.”
In the circumstances, Fulham were ideal opponents for Chelsea to lift the gloom, given they are without a win at the Bridge since 1979.
The clubs are separated by just two miles in west London, but they have traditionally been light years apart in success on the pitch.
Chelsea’s recent struggles had allowed Fulham to dream of a rare victory on enemy turf and there was audible frustration among Blues fans as soon as passes started to go astray from their spluttering team.
Nicolas Jackson’s absence on Senegal duty at the Africa Cup of Nations and Christopher Nkunku’s latest injury have diminished Pochettino’s attacking options.
Armando Broja was deputising for Jackson, but he wasted a good chance when he headed wide from Enzo Fernandez’s cross.
Looking to capitalise on Chelsea’s woes, Fulham launched an incisive break that ended with Harry Wilson’s close-range effort forcing a good save from Djordje Petrovic.
Despite their lethargic display, Chelsea rallied to take the lead in first-half stoppage time.
Issa Diop conceded a penalty with a rash challenge on Raheem Sterling and Palmer stepped up to smash the spot-kick past Bernd Leno.
It was the 21-year-old’s nerveless fifth successful penalty for Chelsea showed why teammates have nicknamed him ‘Cold’ Palmer.
With nine goals since signing from Manchester City in September, Palmer has been one of the few bright spots in Chelsea’s troubled campaign.
“We believe in him, even when he didn’t score with the three big chances in Middlesbrough. He has the quality to play,” Pochettino said.
Driving forward with intent, Palmer curled just wide early in the second half. Chelsea lost their way again as the half wore on and Fulham striker Raul Jimenez headed over before testing Petrovic with a dangerous low strike.
Luton awarded controversial equaliser | 01:21
Conor Gallagher hit the woodwork with a clever effort using the outside of his foot, but Fulham finished strongly and only some last-ditch defending stopped the Blues suffering fresh indignity.
With Chelsea just about holding on, there was good news in the closing minutes when England left-back Ben Chilwell made his return from four months out with a hamstring injury.
There was an interesting sideshow that played out on the sidelines too, with a group of men in jackets standing up at various points of the game in what was later revealed to be a publicity stunt for the film Argylle, which is produced by one of Todd Boehly’s companies.
“In what seems to be some sort of PR stunt for Argylle, the film in which Todd Boehly is involved that releases next month, a group of men in green velvet jackets keep standing up behind the dugouts,” Sky Sports’ Joe Shread said at Stamford Bridge.
“On more than one occasion they have been pretending to brush their teeth, while home fans chant for them to ‘sit down’.
“Bizarre.”
DE BRUYNE RETURNS IN STYLE FOR CITY
Later, Kevin De Bruyne inspired a Manchester City fightback on his first taste of Premier League action for five months to beat Newcastle 3-2 and close to within two points of the top of the Premier League.
The Belgian came off the bench to score and set up Oscar Bobb’s stoppage time winner to announce his comeback from a long-term hamstring injury in style.
A cruel late twist for Newcastle saw Eddie Howe’s men succumb to a sixth defeat in their last seven Premier League games.
But a point would have been more than Newcastle deserved after being thoroughly outplayed but for two goals in two first-half minutes that threatened to frustrate the champions.
Victory takes City up to second in the table, two points behind Liverpool, and ominously poised to strike when they return from a two-week winter break, by which point Erling Haaland may be fit to join De Bruyne in terrorising opposition defences.
A frantic encounter got off to a disrupted start as City goalkeeper Ederson was injured in his attempt to stop Sean Longstaff putting the ball into the net.
The goal was ruled out as Alexander Isak was clearly offside in the build-up and City were furious the flag was not raised earlier to prevent any damage being done to the Brazilian.
Ederson briefly carried on and nearly presented Newcastle with the opener as he was caught in possession, but Bruno Guimaraes failed to get a proper connection on his shot.
Thereafter, City dominated for the opening half hour but lacked the poise of De Bruyne or presence of Haaland up front to turn their possession into a cutting edge.
The Norwegian was sitting out the ninth consecutive game with a foot injury that is set to keep him out for at least the rest of the month.
When City did break the deadlock, it took a moment of brilliance from Bernardo Silva.
The Portuguese backheeled Kyle Walker’s low cross into the far corner on 26 minutes.
Moments later only a brilliant save from Martin Dubravka turned another sweet strike from Silva onto the post.
However, the match was transformed in a stunning two minutes and 18 seconds. Guimaraes cut open the City backline with one stunning pass that freed Isak, who cut inside Walker and curled brilliantly into the far corner.
Seconds later, the Swede’s strike was surpassed as Anthony Gordon followed a similar route by turning inside onto his right foot and firing into the far corner.
Isak could even have given the home side a 3-1 half-time lead as he then failed to beat substitute goalkeeper Stefan Ortega when through one-on-one.
City restored their control of the game at the start of the second period, but again lacked a punch in attack until De Bruyne made his return to Premier League action for the first time since the opening day of the season.
The Belgian made his comeback in a 5-0 rout of Huddersfield in the FA Cup last weekend and quickly showed what the European champions have been missing.
De Bruyne latched onto Rodri’s pass 16 minutes from time and drove forward before placing a low precise finish beyond Dubravka from outside the box.
Despite his lack of game time this season, De Bruyne has still produced more assists than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues since the start of last season.
And another wonderful pass over the top for Bobb created the winner. The young Norwegian still had plenty to do, but showed quick feet to round Dubravka and tap into an unguarded net to spark wild scenes of celebration from City boss Pep Guardiola.
In contrast to City’s jubilation, another defeat for Newcastle may have realistically ended their hopes of a top-four finish as they slip to 10th, still 11 points adrift of the Champions League places.