Chelsea 2-0 Fulham: Kai Havertz Double Edges Cottagers Closer To Drop

 Kai Havertz doubled his Premier League goals tally with a brace as Chelsea edged rivals Fulham closer to the relegation trap door with a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Havertz handed Chelsea a 10th-minute lead with a delicate, lofted finish after Mason Mount's sublime control and through pass. The German added his second four minutes into the second half with another composed finish after combining with compatriot Timo Werner.

With an eye perhaps on Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg with Real Madrid, Thomas Tuchel made five pre-match alterations. Despite Fulham's valiant efforts, Chelsea were rarely tested and could have made the victory more handsome had it not been for a number of inspired saves from Alphonse Areola.

Chelsea's 15th victory in all competitions under Tuchel sees them move to within two points of third-place Leicester and open up a six-point cushion to West Ham in fifth in the race for a top-four finish.

For Fulham, defeat leaves them in 18th place, nine points adrift of Newcastle and Burnley having crucially played a game more than their relegation rivals.

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Chelsea 3-4-2-1

2

-

0

Fulham 4-2-3-1

Substitutes
55F. Anjorin 1K. Arrizabalaga 20C. Hudson-Odoi 3M. Alonso 10C. Pulisic 9T. Abraham 7N. Kanté 28C. Azpilicueta 5Jorginho	48F. Carvalho 2K. Tete 13T. Ream 23J. Bryan 12M. Rodák 3M. Hector 25J. Onomah 9A. Mitrovic 4D. Odoi

Player ratings

Chelsea: Mendy (7), Zouma (7), Silva (7), Christensen (7), James (6), Gilmour (6), Havertz (8), Chilwell (6), Mount (8), Ziyech (7), Werner (7).

Subs: Abraham (5), Kante (5), Alonso (n/a).

Fulham: Areola (7), Aina (6), Andersen (7), Adarabioyo (6), Robinson (7), Lemina (7), Anguissa (6), Lookman (6), Cavaleiro (6), Decordova-Reid (6), Maja (6).

Subs: Mitrovic (n/a), Onomah (5), Carvalho (5).

Man of the Match: Kai Havertz

Havertz heaps misery on toothless Fulham

Fulham's plight towards the foot of the table left them with little option but to assert themselves from the first whistle, and they gave Chelsea a real fright inside five minutes when Antonee Robinson's drive forced Edouard Mendy into a fingertip save.

The early pressure on the Chelsea goal forced Tuchel out of his seat on two occasions, with Reece James bearing the brunt of the tirade for his failure to move forward in support of the attack, and the hosts responded to their manager's rallying calls.