Big-Spending Chelsea Drop More Points In Top Four Race
04 February, 2023
Chelsea's pursuit of a top-four finish in the Premier League suffered another blow after playing to a goalless draw with Fulham on Friday night.
Premier League
Result: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Date: 03 February 2023
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Blues coach Graham Potter handed new signing Enzo Fernandez his debut in the line-up after he joined on Tuesday fellow new recruit Mykhailo Modryk got his first start.
The Blues controlled the contest from the off and although Fulham carried their own threat, the home side should have been ahead on 20 minutes after Kai Havertz latched onto a chip over the top by Thiago Silva but his attempted volley was thwarted by goalkeeper Bernd Leno. The game still needed a spark after half-an-hour, as the sides were cautiously going through the motions but Havertz had another golden chance for Graham Potter's charges on the stroke of half-time after he lobbed a shot over Leno on a one-on-one but his effort came off the post and the encounter remained on the balance at half-time.
Potter was looking for a response from the break as he withdrew Mudryk and brought another new signing Noni Madueke for fresh legs in attack and Madueke almost made an immediate impact after a great cross by Reece James but Kenny Tete made a crucial headed clearance to deny him a free header at the back post.
The Blues pinned Marco Silva's men in their own half but they were not getting spaces in the pockets and on the hour-mark the hosts eventually turned to Raheem Sterling for inspiration in place of Hakim Ziyech.
Fulham, however, started to get spaces behind the Chelsea defence and threatened a couple of times before Fernandez also came close for the hosts with a curling strike from range that missed the far post narrowly wide.
With the Blues on the ascendancy, late substitute and new signing David Fofana had a big chance in the last 12 minutes after Leno misjudged a through ball, as he was rounded by Fofana but Ivorian's shot towards the gaping goals was cleared off the line by.
Joao Palhinha almost stole all the three points for the Cottagers in stoppage time with a deflected that had Chelsea fans worried but the effort went wide, as the sides settled for a share of the spoils.
Source: www.snl24.com
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