Chelsea beat local rivals Fulham in their lunchtime west London derby with Joao Pedro on target again for his new side.
The Brazil international opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time with a powerful header with Enzo Fernandez doubling his side’s lead from the penalty spot after 56 minutes.
But Fulham were left fuming with a string of decisions that went against them at Stamford Bridge.
18-year-old Josh King thought he had given the visitors the lead early on, brilliantly bursting clear and drilling past Robert Sanchez.
Celebrations were cut short however with Rodrigo Muniz judged to have fouled Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up.
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The Fulham striker brilliantly turned past the Chelsea defender on the halfway line to free his young teammate.
But the contact was deemed enough to wipe the goal out with referee Rob Jones judging it to have been a ‘careless challenge’ after reviewing the incident.
As a result of that delay and Liam Delap going off with a hamstring injury, eight minutes were added on at the end of the first-half.
From Fernandez’s corner, Pedro towered above Calvin Bassey to open the scoring with Fulham boss Marco Silva left fuming again with eight minutes already played by that point.
VAR was involved again 10 minutes into the second half with Ryan Sessegnon judged to have put his arms up in the way of Trevoh Chalobah’s shot.
Another incident in the build-up was also reviewed with Chelsea striker Pedro appearing to handle the ball inside the box. But seeing no indiscretion, Jones awarded the hosts the penalty for Sessegnon’s handball.
Fernandez made no mistake from 12 yards as Chelsea made it two wins in their last two games.
Relive the action with Metro’s LIVE matchday blog.
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FULL-TIME! Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
They had a bit of luck, but Chelsea get the job done today.
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
94 mins | Fulham have another chance to apply some late pressure… but Jimenez slams a hopeless free kick miles over the bar.
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
92 mins | Fulham denied – it is cleared off the line by Joao Pedro of all people!
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
89 mins | As was the case in the first-half, we are getting eight minutes of added time here. Plenty of time for Fulham to set up a nervy ending.
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
86 mins | Huge chance for Fulham to pull one back! The subs almost combine as Adama lifts the cross in for Jimenez but he can’t keep the header on target.
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
84 mins | Joao Pedro fancies a second here. It’s good work from him in the build-up and a lucky deflection sees it bounce favourably for him in the Fulham box. He whacks a sweet volley on goal but it is straight at Leno who bats it away.
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
80 mins | Reece James has also entered the fray for Chelsea for the final 10 minutes.
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
75 mins | Fulham are ragged, but Chelsea are looking pretty satisfied with this scoreline.
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
68 mins | Estevao has had another bright game but his afternoon is over with Jamie Gittens onto replace him for the final 20 minutes.
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
63 mins | More controlled, measured possession from Chelsea who are tightening their grip on this. When Fulham do get forward, they look very vulnerable on the counter.
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
58 mins | Chelsea are flying now. Esteveo dances in from the right, brilliantly working room to shoot but there isn’t quite enough power on it and Leno can keep it out.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Fulham (Enzo Fernandez, 55 mins)
Fernandez steps up and drills it home!
PENALTY TO CHELSEA!
Oh dear. Marco Silva is not going to like this. Sessegnon is judged to have blocked Chalobah’s shot with his arm and the penalty is given!
Joao Pedro appeared to handle the ball in the build-up to that moment… but he’s gotten away with it.
Chelsea 1-0 Fulham
51 mins | There’s also a handball from Joao Pedro in the box amid all that. This is getting messy…
Chelsea 1-0 Fulham
49 mins | There’s another VAR check here – Chalobah has hammered a shot on goal and Sessegnon, inside the penalty area, has his arm up protecting his face.
SECOND-HALF UNDERWAY
HALF-TIME! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham
The Blues lead at the break.
Chelsea 1-0 Fulham
54 mins | Joao Pedro is at it again! He towers above Bassey and hammers a header home from Enzo Fernandez’s corner.
That goal came on 54 minutes – after the eight that went up on the fourth official’s board. Marco Silva is fuming.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham (Joao Pedro, 54 mins)
This won’t help Fulham’s mood.
Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
49 mins | Vital block from Caicedo! Fulham creep in from the right and Muniz pulls the trigger from 10 yards out but the Blues midfielder is there in the way.
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